How to break the habit of sin

There’s not a one of us reading this that doesn’t struggle with some sin in our life that hasn’t become so common that it’s now a habit. Some people will deny this, while others will feel convicted and want to repent and turn over a new leaf. If you’re the one struggling with it, or secretly want to know how to break the sin bondage you’re in, I urge you to read the steps below to free yourself from the habit of sinning, and restore your relationship withe jesus.

Steps in Overcoming addiction/sin
1. First, the individual must come to acknowledge that the addiction exists. “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

2. We must recognize that what he is doing is wrong. He may hate other sins but justify this one. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (I John 2:16). “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).

3. We must not blame others. “If my wife was just more affectionate.” “If women were not so seductive.” Adam blamed Eve blamed the serpent. Instead, the one who is addicted must begin to take responsibility to make corrections. Job said, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1).

4. We must learn the fear of the LORD. Fear of the LORD is a conscious knowledge that God disciplines his children and there will be a consequence for his sin. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:6).

5. We must learn to run from temptation. “Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away” (Proverbs 4:15). “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body” (I Corinthian 6:1 . “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (II Timothy 2:22). Self deception may enter in where one thinks he can play with fire without getting burned. “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27-28) .

6. We must recognize that “will power” is not the answer. At a weak moment, he “will” give in. “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not” (Romans 7:1 . In contrast, for the Believer, he has access to the will of God and power of God. “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). He must yield his will to God’s will and be obedient by the power of God. See: “Training The Flesh”.

7. We must engraft the Word of God concerning sexual purity. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). To engraft means to memorize and meditate upon it until it becomes a reality in one’s life. Pr 6:23-24 “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman” (Proverbs 6:23-24).

8. We must destroy any pornography in his possession. “Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places” (Numbers 33:52). Remember pornography is a substitute for truth. See: Addictive Disorders.

9. We must break any generational curse that may be associated with the addiction. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Galatians3:13). See the book, “How To Destroy The Evil Tree”. Furthermore, since evil spirits are most often involved, deliverance is likely to be needed. See: The Open Door.

10. We must understand and recognize that his body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. (For the Believer) “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Corinthians 6:19-20).

11. We must learn to submit himself to God and resist the devil. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7). One must understand that it not just what NOT to do, but also what TO do. Furthermore, the authority to stand must come from submission to the authority of God and those under His authority.

12. We must make himself accountable to a spiritual authority (pastor, elder, or church leader). “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16). “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you” (Hebrew 13:17). When someone has to face regular questioning about his tendency toward the addiction, it may make him think twice before pursuing it.

THERE IS HOPE! A baby does not begin walking in a week; the baby has progressive stages of growth. At first the baby struggles to lift its head. Next, it struggles to just sit up. With persistence, the baby begins to crawl. Then it will make some attempts to stand (amusing at times). Finally, it can stand by holding something. Soon the child is running around on its own! In the same way – he can take progressive steps to freedom!

Realize you’re not perfect; don’t beat yourself up if you fail. Yet don’t use this as a license to binge. Focus on one day at a time.