By C.K. Lester
The Bible says, “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (Jeremiah 13:23).
The bad news is, your chance of overcoming an addiction is slim to none. However, your condition is not hopeless. The Bible has more to say about it!
“A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
There are many who say “once an addict, always an addict,” but that is a lie of the devil. The good news is, your addiction can be overcome. All things are possible- including overcoming addiction- with God (Mark 10:27).
Here are some general principles to help you overcome any addiction:
Ask God for help. “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). Remember, without God, overcoming sin and addiction is impossible.
Pray. When you wake up in the morning, pray. Throughout the day, pray. In the evening, pray.
Confide in close friends and family. They love you and will support your through your struggle.
Do good works. God needs you to help spread the Good News. When you are actively working for God, it's easier to ignore temptation.
If you fall, get back up! “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity” (Prov. 24:16).
One Christian author put it this way:
“There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”