How to Defeat Harmful Habits (Counseling Through the Bible Series) (10 page)

“This habit is caused by my past. I really can’t help it.”

“It’s useless to try to change or quit.”

“I can control this anytime. I’ll change when I’m ready.”

“I don’t want to try to quit and risk finding out I can’t.”

“Doing it one last time won’t make any difference.”

“What I’m doing is not really that bad. A lot of people do worse things.”

“I’ve not been able to change before, so why try now?”

“Everyone needs at least one vice.”

“If I give this up, something worse will just take its place.”

“This is not a good time for me to try to change.”

“I don’t have time to focus on this right now.”

“As soon as I have a sign from God, I’ll change.”

Ultimately you will lose the war with wrong habits if you continue to make excuses for prioritizing yourself or others over pleasing the Lord. Take heed lest you become like those the prophet Jeremiah describes:

“They followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts. They went backward and not forward”

(J
EREMIAH
7:24).

Habit vs. Addiction