Fasting and Prayer

They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God. -Helaman 3:35-

This verse describes a people who yielded their hearts to God. How can fasting strengthen your ability to yield your heart to God and abstain from addiction?
Fasting is making a sacrifice to the Lord, as well as putting the will of God, and your desire to follow Him, above the needs of the flesh. The first part brings us blessings. As we sacrifice to the Lord, He will bless us in the ways we need. Blessings can always be helpful. The second part is important too. The addiction is my body and its perceived needs overcoming my spirit. When my spirit overcomes the flesh (as it is supposed to learn to do in this life), it gets stronger and does it more easily the next time. Fasting is practicing just that. Plus, fasting gives me a chance to think about why I need the help, as well as to pray for it. Every time I think of being hungry, it can remind me what I am seeking in the process.

Consider the importance of praying in the moment of temptation, and write about how prayer will strengthen your humility and your faith in Christ.
Praying in the moment is not something I have been good about practicing. It is something I am working on though and that I do employ, when I think about it. I hope that as time goes on and I think about, and employ, it more often, it will come to mind more often. The times that I have used prayer have been very helpful. Humming hymns and similar were helpful at one time, but that has petered off. I believe it is because they are a static defense, that my body can learn to do without much interference from the mind. Prayer, real prayer, is not that way. It takes concerted mental effort to truly pray, plus the act of prayer invites the Holy Spirit to be present.

How strong is your willingness to yield your heart to God instead of yielding to addiction in the moment of temptation?
I hope it is strong enough. Right now, I think it is fairly strong. I do know that it is not always that way. I need to keep it there though. That willingness is what is going to let me pray, instead of pursuing the destructive cycle. I like to think that I will stay willing. I think that is part of the importance of doing recovery daily, so that I can keep my heart in the right place.