How To Get Rid of a Sinful Habit - All According to Plan

1 Corinthians 10:13

What keeps us stuck repeating the same sinful habits? Is there an escape from the madness or are we doomed to continue the patterns of the past?

Katie Mendez felt stuck. She gave her life to Christ, yet she was still struggling to overcome the same old habits. It seemed that her desire to do wrong overpowered her desire to do right and she was becoming more and more frustrated. She felt like giving up on God (What to do if you feel like giving up on God).

She just couldn’t seem to let go of her ex-boyfriend. She knew that he was bad news but every time she felt just a little bit lonely, she would fly back into his arms and get her heart broken all over again.

What keeps us stuck doing the same thing over and over; repeating sinful habits? Stuck in a perpetual déjà vu and mentally encaged, seemingly without any possible way out? Is there an escape from the madness or are we doomed to continue the patterns of the past?

He knows your weaknesses

The enemy knows your weakness. He’s been here long enough to know the weakness of your entire generation, going back to your great, great, great, great grandfather. Because he knows you and your family so well, he knows exactly what to tempt you with to keep you stuck. When we fall for the same temptation over and over, we make it a habit and it becomes more difficult to break free.

So how do you escape the sin cycle? How do you break free from the shackles of sinful habits? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 10:13:

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
1 Corinthians 10:13

God has already created a way to escape the enemy’s temptations. It’s up to us to accept that way of escape and follow it.

Katie asked her youth Pastor for some actionable steps to help her break free from her ex-boyfriend. But I think they can be applied to any sin-cycle you may find yourself in.

Step 1: Change your mind

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Psalms 51:10

All habits begin in the mind. Sometimes, when things become habitual, it’s difficult to see it as a sin. If we ask God for a renewed mind, He will grant us the eyes to see that practice for what it truly is and how destructive it can be. Then, we can then look at that sinful habit and see it as something to be avoided rather than something to be indulged.

Step 2: Shun the very appearance

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”
1 Thessalonians 5:22

Have you ever walked into a bakery, knowing fully well that you’re going to be tempted to buy that chocolate brownie you know you’re not supposed to eat? Yes, we’ve all been there. The Bible warns us to shun the very appearance of evil. If you know that there’s a place or thing (or person) that can easily persuade you to do something you know you’re not supposed to do, then avoid it. Don’t take the chance thinking that you’re going to be strong ‘this time.’ It’s much better to avoid a situation of potential temptation than to run headfirst into it.

Step 3: Ask for deliverance

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:13

We cannot fight this battle on our own. There is spiritual warfare being raged every day for our souls. Therefore, we ought to take up the whole armour of God to defeat the attacks of Satan. When you find yourself stuck repeating a sinful habit, you can pray for God’s promise of deliverance. And He will be your strength in your moments of weakness and give you the power to resist temptation.

Conclusion

If you find yourself stuck in a cycle of repeating the same sin over and over, there is hope. You can get the deliverance you’ve been looking for, God has already provided it. All you have to do is hold onto his promise during your weakest times.

It may not overcome it today or even tomorrow but eventually through prayer and growing a closer relationship with Christ daily, you will soon get rid of your sinful habit.

Prayer for Today:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Lord, I am weak but you are strong. You have the power to release me from this sinful habit. Help me to resist temptation, I don’t want to be stuck here anymore. Provide me with the tools I need to walk away from sinful habits and renew within me a clean heart.

Amen.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article today. If you have a question, query or story you’d like to share with me, please leave a comment or email me using the form below.