Overcoming Destructive Habits

“They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.” (2 Peter 2:19 NLT)

Habits are neutral; they can be good or bad. Good habits can help us achieve predictable and consistent results. Bad habits, on the other hand, can limit our greatness and lead to destruction.

"How can I break bad habits?"
"I find it hard to stop." "I don't want to do it again, but I'm trapped, so I keep doing it." These are just a few of the difficulties that people with destructive habits face. Today, God will grant you victory over those destructive habits in Jesus' name.

Destructive habits have led to

Broken homes and marriages
Premature death
Alcoholism and drugs
Robbery
Failure
Health challenges
Prison
Sorrow and pain
Sexual perversion

The devil is doing all that he can to ensure people don't fulfil their destinies, and one of the tools he is using is destructive habits.

You can break destructive habits, but you need the help of the Holy Spirit. Those destructive habits were once works of the flesh, but when you continue in the flesh for a long time, the door for a demonic entity will be opened. Demons can easily take over from the works of the flesh, which is why you need to be careful.

Some examples of destructive habits
1. Extreme Anger (wrath)
Some people, when they are angry, they break things. After they cool off, they will either buy a new one or repair the broken device. Sometimes, they break televisions and anything else they can lay their hands on. This is demonic and destructive, and without the help of God, they cannot stop.

2. Excessive Sexual Thoughts
There are some people who are plagued by sexual, immoral thoughts throughout the day. Even at night, they are attacked by immoral dreams. If this is the case, then it is clear that this person is attacked by a demon. Such demons take over a person's emotions and flesh, causing him to continue until he ends up in prison or the mortuary.

Some of these people desire to stop, but they have become slaves to their emotions. They need the power of God to break those demonic chains in their minds and emotions.

3. Smoking
If you watch the adverts on TV, there is a warning that smokers can die young and that smoking is dangerous to health, but people are still buying it. They become so addicted to it that they can't stop. We should be addicted to God, not to things. Addiction to things can shut down our reasoning.

Alcohol and hard drugs can quickly shut down the rational mind and make the person act without thinking. The moment the mind shuts down, demons quickly take over and use the human body and mind to commit atrocities. When the person is no longer under the influence of alcohol and is convicted, he begs for mercy and says, "It was the devil who pushed me."

Examine your life and break away from any form of addiction that can affect your destiny, either now or later.

Habits are formed through repetition, and without paying attention to the things you do daily, you might unconsciously develop a negative habit.

How to break destructive habits

You need the help of the Holy Spirit.

But the , the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit is our helper, and He can help you overcome those destructive habits. One of the things you can do is pray in the Spirit. Praying in tongues gives the Holy Spirit access to the situation.

Break those habits in the place of prayer.

⁷ “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8)

Address the spirit behind the habit.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. (Acts 16:18)

Many believers are secretly hiding these destructive habits, but many will admit that at least there is one destructive habit that they are struggling with.

Confess your new status.

Confession brings possession. When you change your confession, it will attract new results to your life. With your tongue, you can kill or make alive.

You will also declare a thing,

And it will be established for you;

So light will shine on your ways. (Job 22:28),

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit. (Proverbs 18:21)

The wrong confession will always empower the wrong habits.

Change your thinking

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.(Romans 12:2).

The first place to initiate change is in your mind. If your mind is not empowered with the right knowledge, it will affect your confession and attitude. Renew your mind with the word so that your mind can be empowered to overcome.

Choose a new habit, and keep growing in it.

Sometimes the change can happen overnight, and other times it can be over time. Stay consistent with the recommended steps that I have outlined for breaking destructive habits; over time you'll see the changes.

¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. (Matthew 7:17-18)

Bible Reading Plan : Act 5-9

Day 19:40 Days Fasting & Prayer

Overcoming Destructive Habits

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