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Consider having a “Quitting” notebook, and filling it with tips, and ideas that you read about. Most of us struggle to maintain new habits. We get a great idea for a new habit to replace an old habit, then work on it for a day or two, then move on to some other “hot” solution.
Today’s article is day 6 in an interweaving of solutions and habits that in my opinion are the foundations of quitting God’s way. I think it is wise to work on these 5 habits (Listed below) first, often, and to keep working on them until they start to become habits.
Second, the challenge is… I stink at learning new habits, I am a champ at continuing to do things the way I always have. How to start to change.
Consider having notes on these new habits, or printouts, so that you can review them often. Have a time and a place to work on quitting daily. Consider starting daily, by adding new quitting ideas to your notebook, then, review the top 5 habits, then start trying to “do” the top five habits. Note: 4 of these 5 habits are straight from the Bible, and the 5th (Doing other activities) is a foundation with 99% of all quitting programs.
Third, you can do this. If you are terrible at this (Like I am) you can do your daily reading, and then start trying to do the idea’s.
Fourth, consider putting notes in your phone and everywhere else to remind you to do these things. Have a “code” page in your quitting notebook. A note, or a sticky note with an R could be code for praying your quitting prayer, or a V could be code to remind you to fight temptation with your quitting verse, or an A could remind you to focus on trying alternative activities that may lower temptation.
If people ask, “Why do you have a note with an A on it.” You could say something like, “I am trying to change the way I am thinking, and this is my reminder.”
Fifth, the Bible promises everyone that joy will increase if they start to do things God’s way. The challenge is that most of us commit at a 25%, 35%, or 40% level. Well… Your joy is going to increase at that same level. If you want fullness of joy, strive to be fully committed.
Sixth, remember what happens on a day when you are fully committed. You felt this great relationship with God, life was looking up, and you felt some joy. Then the next day life ran you over again. Satan tells you, “This is not working.”
Consider memorizing this fact: “When I am committed to quitting God’s way, I have seen my life improve.” We need to make it through the dark day. We need to give God a chance to help us by “Giving Him time on a dark day.”
Finally, today consider using notes to start your course toward new habits. It takes time (Sometimes a long time), but it is worth it.
Below is the review of the first 5 habits.
First, pick a quitting verse, and use it often to fight temptation.
Second, pick a quitting prayer, and use it to fight temptation.
Third, have a list of alternative activities to do.
Fourth, think often about learning to fear the Lord: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.”
Fifth, pray often about purpose. Strive to start helping people and doing things that God wants you to do.
Last, the only people who succeed at this are the people who keep doing it. Will you become one of those people?

To stop bad habits it is wise to form habits of thinking about new things. Philippians commands us to think toward love.
First, think about things that attract, please, and win other people’s admiration and attention. Everybody likes a person who does this because then they speak in a way that is positive and makes life better for everyone.
Second, part of the reason long-term habits continue is because of conflicts with others. If you form the habit of thinking in a helpful, loving way, it becomes easier to get along with everybody. Thinking right sometimes leads to speaking right as well as acting right. It all starts right in you mind. Consider praying:
“Father, help me to form the habit of having 1-2 positive, life improving things to think about.”
The Bible commands us to let our minds dwell on helpful, loving thoughts.
I am not good at this. That is why I keep referring back to these articles about what to think about. I need to keep working on that habit. It will keep me from focusing on wrong things.
Third, I act, and think based on my emotions, and on what I want. This is a bad system, and it leads to bad habits, which then lead to destruction.
God wants us to think before we act. Think first!
Think, what does God want me to do? How does God want me to think?
Fourth, everyone starts off thinking wrong. But only a few catch themselves and think: The way I am thinking is terrible, and it will lead to darkness, which will lead to _______. I need to change the way I am thinking. Consider praying:
“Father, help me to form the habit of changing thoughts of _______, and replacing them with thoughts of Christian love.”
Today, consider replacing thoughts of:
#1 Self-pity, with thoughts of love
#2 Fear, with thoughts of Biblical verses on courage
#3 Bitterness, with thoughts of forgiveness.
Finally, consider writing out 2-3 of your negative thoughts, Then, write down what you will replace those thoughts with.
If you think right, it will lead to doing right (someday).
Most importantly, replace constant thoughts of your habit with something better.
Thinking God’s way starts us toward freedom and
joy.

Satan tempted Jesus, and Jesus said: “Get behind me satan.” While we don’t quite have the power of Jesus, if we have repented fully of our sins, we have the full power to fight with satan.
First, repent. Second, tell satan in Jesus name to get behind you. Third, commit to a long-term war with sin. This commitment will increase your power to fight temptation. Fourth, committed Christians have great power when they pray the blood of Jesus over their fight. The power of Jesus blood gives us victory over darkness.
1 Peter 5:8 -9  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Everyone can resist. If while under severe temptation you read these verses over and over again, power will start to fill you. Read them while watching (clean) TV. Put them in your phone. Access His power.
How do we submit to God? Consider praying:
“Father, Your ways are right and great. Help me to fight until I change.”
With every temptation Jesus said to satan, “It is written.” What if with every temptation you find 2 verses about your habit and you repeat them 5 times per hour, or more. Then, the next day find two new ones and repeat, repeat, repeat. What if you find two new verses each day for 30 days, and repeat them with “Every” temptation. With every verse copy Jesus, and say, “It is written.”
Finally, fight temptation the way Jesus did. It works.

Day 21
Here are the next 3 verses to pray over for 20 minutes:
Luke 21:34 ESV “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
Romans 13:13 ESV Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

How do we live in truth daily?

#1 Read the Bible. But, also pray constantly about God’s ways. God’s commands are good. We usually believe that statement except when we are fighting one of the commands. Instead, take the command you are fighting and say, #1 This command _________ (fill in the blank with the command you struggle with) is also good. My life will 100% be better when I learn to follow it. #2 Say, God, you are my miracle, my provider, and my joy. #3 Say, “God’s ways are best and they start to lead me toward joy.”

What statements/prayers can you focus on that will lead you toward truth?

Second, put on Christian music. Sinful music can easily lead you away from truth. Christian music can often lead you toward truth.

Third, practice rapid repentance. I wish I was like Paul or Joseph from the Bible (Righteous people), but maybe their trick was rapid repentance.

The habit of rapid repentance helps us understand why we should live life God’s way. Until we practice rapid repentance, joy will be a mystery.

Fourth, when you have fully repented, ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide. He has a purpose for you.

Finally, we live in truth when we spend time with other believers. Other believers are usually strong in a different aspect of Christianity than we are. Learn how to love, be humble, have faith, or do good works by watching other believers. If they are a powerhouse, loving Christian, get to know them and find out why. Do they have more joy than you? Find out why. Biblical Paul was filled with joy. Why? Because he was way better at living in truth than I am.
Finally, complete all the daily steps listed on day one.

Here are the next 3 verses to pray over for 20 minutes:
Proverbs 20:1 ESV / 1,156 helpful votes 
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.
Psalm 111:10 ESV / 1,117 helpful votes 
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
I attended Pilgrim camp as a kid. Their motto was Holiness unto the Lord. Some would say, what a pushy, strict motto. But none of the kids minded. We were treated with love, and it was obvious that their beliefs were the real thing. They were living with joy and purpose, and they were teaching us how to live with joy and purpose.

The problem in life is, when we forget about holiness, we lose faith in believing that God’s ways lead to happiness.

The problem with quitting is people want to quit drinking but still do porn, or quit porn and still drink in excess. Holiness is no part of that quitting program. People want to quit ______, but still do _______(Put in the sin you don’t want to quit).

Pilgrim camp’s motto was Holiness unto the Lord. The leaders lived great lives. They constantly exhibited the fruits of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, temperance. They taught people to seek the Lord to study scripture and to pray to be filled-with-the-spirit.

Some read my articles and do the practical tips and reject the Spiritual tips. That system will work as long as you can resist your temptations without having a lot of joy in your life.

God’s #1 reason for writing the Bible might not be so we can be good (But it is high up on the list). His #1 reason might be that we can study it so that we can be shining Lights, allowing Him to shine through us.

Trust me, there are already millions of joyless Christians saying how great their religion is. Quitting without holiness will allow you to join their group. But there are also a lot of Christians quitting habits and embracing holiness. These Christians are joining a group of Christians who are headed for purpose, freedom, and joy.

Hebrews 1:9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

The Joy Habit

#1 Consider saying 5 times daily: I will live in a way that increases my joy.

#2 Consider saying 5 times daily: Holiness starts to lead to joy.

#3 Working toward holiness makes quitting easier.

#4 Always have 1 or 2 quitting habits as goals. Working on them steers you toward holiness, and fighting lawlessness increases gladness.

Finally, complete all the daily steps listed on day one.