Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Our bodies yearn to sin because it is attracted to the desires of this earth. Feeling hungry or thirsty, lusting after a member of the opposite sex, being attracted to shiny and attractive things are all symptoms of being a human being on earth.
If it were up to our human bodies, we would be eating ice cream every day and leading lives of sordid and uncontrollable behavior. However, the discipline that we give ourselves is what sustains our lives and bodies so we can live a little longer than we should if we gave in to every desire of the body.
When you are driving on a non-busy road the instinct sometimes is to drive as fast as you possibly can and do whatever you want on the road but your brain starts prompting you to consider unforeseen circumstances and slow down.
Consider your alone time to be your non-busy road. The things you feed your body are the things it eventually gives you back.
No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
The free will God has given us means that we get to choose which paths our lives’ journey should take. The good news though is that he says that no matter what pit, bad habits, trouble that we may fall into as a result of the paths we take, he has promised that there will always be a way out and that no challenge or problem will be stronger than us.
So the choice still remains whether we want to take God’s way out or continue to please our bodies. As Christians, we have been given strength by the power of Christ to resist and overcome any temptation that may be thrown our way.
Even though our bodies may try to lead us to destruction through lustful behavior, our spirits have been given the strength to take back control. If you fall into a bad habit pray for strength in your spirit to help your body conform to the way of the spirit to prevent destruction.
Prayers for breaking bad habits
Prayers to break drug addiction
Dear Lord
I have fallen into a habit I never thought I would
I have reached the point where my body keeps craving for this drug
It seemed harmless at first but I have let my guard down and now I am in trouble
I do not want to die young and leave this world prematurely
I want to be well again and fulfill my potential
I know you can help me overcome this
Please strengthen my spirit to resist the weakness of my body
Take this craving away from me and restore my strength
Restore my body and make it more perfect than it was before
Heal me of my depression and help me break this deadly cycle
Hear my cry, oh Lord, and give me the grace to overcome this
Amen
Prayer to get rid of bad temper
Merciful Lord
I ask that you pour cold water on my hot temper
It has cost me a lot of relationships
My family and friends do not desire to be around me because of it
I have lost opportunities because of it
It has become a problem for my love life as well and I am afraid I will end up alone
I know I wasn’t created this way and I want to break from it
Please teach me to listen and consider other people’s feelings
Help me to not fly off the handle every time I hear something unpleasant
Cause me to take a breath before I embarrass myself
and give me a peaceful and gentle heart in Jesus name I pray
Amen
Prayer to break sex addiction
Merciful Father
I pray that you take this lustful behavior away from me
I cannot control myself and I am constantly making stupid decisions because of this
People take advantage of me because of this habit
My money, my reputation, and my respect have all suffered decline because I can’t control myself
I ask that you touch my spirit and renew it
Help me focus on your word and resist this temptation
Free me from this bondage and help me reason with wisdom and not my body
Teach me to abstain from this act and focus on strengthening my spirit
Help me set myself apart for you and have some dignity
Teach me restraint and help me treat my body as the temple it is
Amen
Prayer to stop drinking alcohol
Heavenly Father
Thank you for sustaining my life till today
But I’m afraid I am losing my life to this habit
My body already feels weakened
I feel damaged deep within me and I want to stop
You are the God of impossibilities
Please replace the taste of sin on my tongue with the taste of freedom
Help me ditch this behavior
It has already taken my family from me, please don’t let it take my life too
Let your grace and love free me from this bondage
Help me seek your spirit instead of a bottle when I wake
I am willing to change so please help me, dear Lord
Amen
Prayer to stop gossiping
Dear Lord in heaven
I pray that you remove the spirit of gossip from my heart
It doesn’t make me feel liked and it just destroys my relationships
Please help me be trustworthy and not blurt out anything I’m told in confidence
Help me mind my own business and not snoop on others
Teach me to be wise and respect boundaries
I do not want to land in trouble because of my gossiping habit
I want to break free of this evil
Let me know when to shut up and when to talk
Let me hold my peace and not cause trouble between people with my words
Let your spirit guide me through my life and let me please you with my words always
Amen
Prayer to stop cheating
Dear Lord in heaven
I pray that you deliver me from this habit
I always feel the urge to cheat my friends, family, and lovers
I never feel content with what I have
I seem to always want other people’s possessions
Sometimes I lie just to get what I want
I know that the evil that I do to others follow me
I pray that you redeem my body and soul
Make me into the likeness of Christ
Let me resist the evil to cheat people
Let me lead by example for my children and those who look up to me
Bless me, Lord, so can leave this behavior in my rearview
Amen
Prayer to stop stealing
Heavenly Father
I am a thief
I can’t help myself when I see something valuable
It doesn’t matter whether I have it or not
I get this instinct to take it when it’s not meant for me
I do not want this disgusting habit
It will definitely land me in trouble
I ask that you save me from this disease
Help me appreciate what I have
Let me be content with what you give me and not envy others
Remove this cancer from my heart and help me divert from this path
Amen
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Prayer to rid of jealousy
Dear God
I pray against the spirit of jealousy in my heart
It is difficult for me to be happy for people when good things happen to them
I find myself hating them and wishing it was mine
I pray that you help me break this behavior
I want to genuinely celebrate with people
I don’t want jealousy to consume me
Help me be joyous with what I have
and let me not be jealous of others
I know in your time you will give me what I deserve
Amen
Prayer against gluttony
Dear God,
Please help me control my eating
Sometimes I don’t even know when I’m filled
I end up buying and hoarding more than I need
I take from those who actually need it and keep it for myself
Please help me be compassionate and measured
Let your spirit touch my stomach and teach it restraint
Help me control my appetite and eat what is sufficient for me
Teach me to share with others and not only keep for myself
Amen
Prayer to stop lying
Merciful Father,
I have a problem and my problem is that I never tell the truth
Please take this lying tongue away from me
No one really trusts my words anymore
It is killing my potential in life
I don’t want to pass this on to my children
Let it end with me
Burn up all the deceit in my soul
Let me be truthful to everyone from now on
Let the truth be my hallmark
and let me be faithful in all my dealings from now on
Amen
Bad habits are like a road taken after a wrong turn. There is a tendency to keep traveling on it because you feel like eventually, you are going to get on the right road. God will keep providing exits to you and will hope that you take one of them so you can save yourself from impending destruction. God is always willing to deliver you from your bad habits, we just need to reach out and be willing to change for the better.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
