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Either the Bible will keep you from sin, or temptation will keep you from the Bible.

The Bible says “The wages of sin is death.
Sin “always” has long term consequences.

Some die from intoxication but many who do this do not die a physical death, so what dies? Emotions partially die, or are damaged. Anger breaks out, fear is boosted. Purpose dies or is damaged. When we choose other things over God’s purpose and will, a place in our heart dies. We feel empty. We need something.

Proverbs 20:Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Second, many read this article, only a few read the key verse from Proverbs 20 until they have a proper fear of consequences.

Third, someday I hope to be approached in heaven by a man who says:

“I read your article about Proverbs 20, then I read the key verse over and over again until I had it memorized word for word. From that day forward I started to understand the consequences. From that day forward I used the Bible as my tool to quit.”

Barry Bonds smashed baseballs. He was the king of the steroid era players (allegedly). Pitchers were scared of him and he walked 232 times in 2004 including 120 intentional walks. Barry annihilated the home run record with 73.

The million-dollar question is, can we annihilate drinking/drugs? If we include specific scriptures about drinking/drugs in our prayers they start to become powerful. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to abstain from every form of evil.”

At home, we can read drinking/drugs verses when overwhelmed. #2 If we have several prayers that use verses about quitting for busy times, they will start to change our thought patterns. Consider praying:

“If my thoughts are darkness how great is that darkness.”

Consider praying those prayers until you “know” that this habit causes darkness and depression. It is easier to quit if you start to become fully aware of the dark side to the party.

Pure thoughts are clean thoughts. Pure thinking involves thinking in a pure way about what we will read, watch, listen to, or think about. Consider praying David’s prayer:

“Create in me a pure heart Oh God, and renew a right Spirit within me.”

Step one in thinking pure thoughts is to plan to think pure thoughts. Plan pure thoughts if you are out and about where temptation may pop up. Plan pure thoughts before you turn on the TV.

Second, pure thoughts are: What is God’s will right now, not Wow, how can I have (wrongful) fun. Pure thoughts only happen when we avoid evil.

Finally, pure thoughts are writing prayers that say what Job said about keeping his eyes pure.

“Father, I will keep my mind pure, help me to run from sin.”

Purity and positivity lead to a clean mind, and a clean mind keeps us free. Consider a focus on purity.

Consider the habit of turning to scripture to solve your problems. If your energy is low search “Verses strength” and study and pray over that. If your anger is high study/pray “Verses anger,” if your relationships stink, study/pray “Verses contentment.”

Why? Because problems lead back to habits. But, if we work on solving them God’s way we get closer to God. Being closer to God helps us fight temptation.

Second, solving problems Biblically allows God’s light to shine through us. A person who is mad at their spouse, coworker, teacher, or brother does not promote the Kingdom of God. Instead, forgive rapidly and study verses on the problem. Consider praying:

“Father, take away this ______ so that I live in love and do Your will.”

Third, tells others to solve their problems with Google scripture searches. Many people’s lives would improve greatly if they simply were told, “Study/pray “Verses peace.” If people talk about their problems to you, ask them, “Are you open to scripture solutions? They have really worked well for me.”

Finally, turning to scripture to solve your problem allows God’s power to work in your life. Once His power is completely working in your life… Lust will die. Consider embracing this habit. Every time you solve specific problems with specific scripture, the power increases in you. The more you make this a habit, the easier it will be to quit.

With the 1-2 habit, we write down 1-2 key things from an article. To triple its effectiveness set an alarm to review these key items every 30 minutes. Obviously, this only works when you are more alone and can review the key things for a few minutes. But, those are the times when temptation ramps up.

Second, Galatians 5:1 ESV “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.

Consider praying:

“Father, teach me how to put this slavery to death.”

Satan wants us to consider triggers for a tiny bit, to keep considering for just a second, to wait to turn away from tempting thoughts for an instant. Why does God want us to put these thoughts “To death.” #1 The Bible commands us to be “Filled with the Holy Spirit.” Considering triggers or bad thoughts stops this filling dead for more than a minute or two. Note: Treat intentional thoughts with rapid repentance. Don’t try to fool God, he knows exactly how intentional it was. #2 Considering our (bad) options keeps us from our purpose and from joy. When we cheat, someone is getting cheated. To find out who, check your mirror. Consider praying:

“Father, help me to turn from this habit and show me how to find joy.”

We find joy in purpose and in the presence of the Lord. Remember the two P’s, purpose and presence. They will start you down the path toward joy.