God delivered me from a gambling addiction.

I grew up in a very stable Greek home, was saved at 14 and baptized at 17, became a Sunday school teacher, got married, had children and thanked God every day for my stable life and rock-solid marriage.

However, I did love poker and played once a month/every 2 months. This, I believed, was just a ‘hobby’ and saw nothing wrong with it.

In 2002 my husband became too friendly with his secretary, felt our marriage was boring and told me he no longer loved me and wanted a divorce. After the divorce I blamed God and ran from Him.

My gambling escalated to new heights. I was gambling 2 to 3 times a week but losing substantial amounts of money. My credit cards were all maxed out.

My turning point came in 2011. Two weeks into January, I ended up at Emperors Palace. I gambled away all of my own money and then gambled away my company’s money that was meant to be deposited. I lost everything.

Walking out of the casino at 2am feeling sick to my stomach with guilt, knowing that I was now also a thief.

21st of January 2011 I got delivered. The Lord used a lady to deliver me and she said “God wants you to know that if you take one step for him today, He will take one thousand on your behalf.”

The journey to recovery was by no means easy. Withdrawal symptoms and I would shake, cry and even drive to the casino. But the God we serve is an awesome God and he was there for me every step of the way.

James 1:14-15

‘but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.’