Perhaps you truly desire to adhere to a healthy diet and lifestyle, but there are certain bad habits that are holding you back or keeping you from attaining your ultimate level of health. I am very familiar with the struggle to overcome bad habits. Thankfully, the Bible reveals steps people can take to become free from destructive habits.
Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent Me to…preach deliverance to the captives…to set at liberty them that are bruised…” (Luke 4:18)
Jesus also declared, “If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…If the Son [of God – Jesus] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” (John 8:31-32, 38)
The following are several keys that can help you to break free from destructive habits:
Avoid places that will open the door to temptation.
If you’re addicted to alcohol you shouldn’t spend time in a bar. If you’re addicted to chemical substances, don’t go into a drug house. Avoid places where you know you’ll be tempted to revert to destructive behavioral patterns. As the Bible says, “Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
When temptation strikes pray immediately for God to help you.
“There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer [allow] you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)
When temptation comes your way ask God for help. Hebrews 4:14-16 states, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” We can go to God and ask Him to help us during our times of temptations, and He will show us the way to escape it.
Also, talk to the Lord about why you feel tempted. For instance, if you feel tempted to smoke a cigarette because you feel stressed out, you can talk to the Lord about it. He cares very much about how you feel. “Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8) God will not only help you to overcome temptation, He will also minister to your emotional needs if you ask Him to. Just pour out your heart to Him and tell Him how you really feel. You can tell Him you’re tempted to smoke/drink/et cetera because you feel stressed out/depressed.
Focus on the truth of God’s Word about the temptation you’re facing, and also why you feel tempted.
As previously stated, Jesus said that those who continue in His Word would know the truth, and the truth of His Word will set them free. As you focus on what the Bible says about temptation and how to overcome it, you will see God’s way of escape for you, which will lead to your freedom. And as you focus on what the Bible says about the root cause of your temptation (why you feel tempted), the Lord will renew your spirit and give you the inner strength to resist doing the wrong thing. “…they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
I highly recommend that you get a Strong’s Concordance which lists all the words in the Bible. You will then be able to look up all the verses about temptation, drinking, the body, fear, depression (being downcast), et cetera. This way you’ll have the specific verses to help you in your time of need. You can also memorize these verses so that when you’re out and about you’ll be able to review them in your mind as needed. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11)
Submit to God and resist the devil.
James 4:7 exhorts us to, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Satan is the one who tempts us to do things that he knows will eventually destroy us. Jesus said, “…the devil…was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” (John 8:44) The devil lies to people by telling them certain activities will help them, that destructive acts won’t harm them, that they can quit any time they want to, that they can just try it once, or just one more time, et cetera. However, his true goal is murder – to murder people body, mind, and spirit. As Jesus warned, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, kill, and to destroy…” (John 10:10) However, Jesus also added that “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” If you submit to (obey) God and resist the devil (by not yielding to the temptation he tries to entice/seduce you with) Satan will flee from you, and you’ll be able to enjoy the abundant life that Jesus wants to give you.
Endure for the joy set before you.
Hebrews 12:2 revealed that Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. He knew that He would be resurrected and that through Him, many people would be saved, and He looked past the present trial He was going through to the glorious future that awaited. This principle can also be applied to facing temptation.
You can look past the temptation to the goals you would much rather attain if you resist temptation by making a list of all the goals you have – body, mind, and spirit. For example: “I want to attain better health.” Review your list when temptation strikes.
In addition to temporary goals, also think about what resisting temptation means for your eternal future. James 1:12 states, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” When you resist temptation you not only plant seeds for a better life in time but also in eternity. Galatians 6:7-9 exhorts us to, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap if we faint not.”
Make yourself accountable to others.
No man is an island. No one can make it in life alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us, “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” Hebrews 3:12-14 adds, “Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”
And Hebrew 11:25-27 warns about, “forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day [of Jesus’ return] approaching. For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” We need the fellowship and encouragement of others to help us to stay on the straight and narrow. And for those, who like myself, struggle with addiction, you not only need church fellowship, you also need support regarding your specific struggle. You need someone who will hold you accountable on a regular basis. Ask God to provide you with a Divine connection regarding which person or group He wants you to unite with and receive help from.
In addition to the above principles, also keep in mind replacement therapy.
Replace Bad Habits With Good Habits
As the Bible says, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
The Spiritual Warfare Connection
Drug addiction, in particular, is difficult to overcome because of the possible open doors to the occult. In the book of Revelation, the word sorceries refer to drugs. (Revelation 9:21, Revelation 18:23) The Greek word for sorceries is pharmakeia which is defined as medication, pharmacy, and also magic, sorcery, and witchcraft. Mind-altering drugs are a form of sorcery that opens the door to the enemy of our souls – Satan the devil. Yet the Bible also says that the Lord is greater than the enemy who is in the world. (1 John 4:4) God can help you to defeat Satan. James 4:7 lets us know that if we submit ourselves to God and resist the devil that he (the devil) will flee.
As long as we’re on this side of eternity, we will be susceptible to yielding to temptation. 1 Corinthians 10:12 warns, “let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” As long as we live in time, Satan will always try to tempt us to disobey God, because he knows it will destroy us. 1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” Therefore, we must always remain on our guard. Jesus said, “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
Helpful Resources
In addition to the above, you can get the following resource that can help you in your quest to break bad habits.
Keys To Better Health 