People use 100 different ways to try to quit. Let’s assume you are a murderer. For your whole life your family and church have taught you: “Pray these prayers, then pray about being a better person.”
They are correct, but their timeline may be a little off. Let’s assume you pray all of these great prayers, you pray for your family, for health, and wisdom. 30 minutes later you feel a bit better and you are done. 6 days later you murder someone again. What went wrong?
Instead, repent first. If intoxication is your sin search “Verses drinking” and pick a verse. Pray over this verse for 5 minutes. Allow God to teach you a new way during these 5 minutes. Allow the scripture to pound the darkness out of you during these 5 minutes.
Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [a]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Pounding the darkness out with scripture is how we acknowledge that this scripture is true. Let’s go back to our killer. After his latest killing his mom tells him, “Son, you better repent or you are going straight to hell.” She gives him this #1 tip. Immediately, he searches “Verses murder” and prays over them. He repents before God as he prays. For the first time in a long time, he realizes what he has done. For the first time in a long time, he feels the Holy Spirit right there with him. For the first time in a long time, he no longer feels driven by his sin.
Second, why is this the #1 tip? Because, when you pray without repenting, these principalities, powers, rulers and spiritual hosts of wickedness are being allowed to sit there waiting for you to finish your prayer. Then shortly after you finish praying they are whispering in your ear again.
Third, panic… they are stronger than you. Practice real repentance.
Finally, realize, that it is vital to do this #1 tip. That way, at least the powers from that verse will start to think about not bugging you anymore.
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