“For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.” Romans 7:19

How to Kick a Habit

I read an article about how difficult it is for people to kick a heroin habit. This seems so far removed from my life that I don’t relate to any part of it, but I am drawn to other people’s life stories, struggles, and triumphs, so I found it interesting.

It’s so easy to judge addicts, to say, “You should never have started using drugs” (as if they don’t know that already), and to say, “All you have to do is _______________ (fill in our assorted opinions).”

God forgive me for ever thinking it is as simple as that, for saying to myself, “I would never ____________”, for thinking for one moment that I am above destroying myself by some method while I am in the throes of fear, pain, depression, or delusion.

There, but for the grace of God, go I…

The woman in the article did eventually kick her habit. One thing she said about the process was, “If I held on to one thing that was good (about heroin), even if it was twisted good, I’d hold on to heroin.” She had to hate it all—every person, place, thing, and idea associated with addiction. Every emotion, every delusion, every feel-good moment, every thought, action, habit, pleasure, compulsion, drive, benefit, and passion surrounding this lifestyle had to become something she hated.

Until you see the harm a thing is causing you, it is very difficult to hate what or who you’ve loved. Your mind must be thoroughly changed, and that is a work of the Holy Spirit in us.

I couldn’t help but think of my own sins. The I-would-never’s of my life. I would never get caught up in that. I would never feel drawn to that. I would never give my life over to that. And if I ever did, I would ___________ (here we go again with our platitudes, our simplistic answers, our prideful thoughts that God hates.)

Numbers 33:55 speaks to this. “But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall be irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell.”

 We could easily insert a hundred other scriptures that tell us the same thing. There is only one answer to freedom from what would imprison us: drive it out. Do not allow it to remain. Do not practice it. Do not “nurse and rehearse” it. Especially, do not love it.

What is trying to imprison you today? Bitterness? Fear? Guilt? Regret? Sorrow? Laziness? Apathy toward the things of God? The list may be long. Invite the Holy Spirit to do His work of release, that you may walk in freedom.

Father, we can’t do this on our own. Help us to hate our sin as much as You do. Deliver us from evil. We ask this in the mighty name of the One who has the power and authority to answer this prayer, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.