Bible verses about addiction

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

The clearest description of the cycle anywhere in Scripture: drawn away, enticed, conceived, finished. Four stages, and the early ones are where it can still be stopped.

Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

God is not the source of it. The pull works on desire already present, which is why changing what you want matters more than changing what you see.

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

Sober and vigilant. The hunt is for the tired, the isolated and the unguarded — which tells you exactly when you are in danger.

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Make no provision for the flesh. Most relapses were arranged hours earlier, by what was left within reach.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Common to man. Whatever you have been telling yourself about being the only one, Scripture disagrees — and promises a way of escape every time.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Tempted in every way, and did not sin. That is why you can come boldly rather than hide, and find help in the exact moment you need it.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

He suffered being tempted, which makes him able to help those who are.

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

When a man is overtaken, restore him — gently, and watching yourself. Addiction is not fought alone and is not fought by shaming.

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

Mortify. Some appetites are not managed or moderated; they are put to death.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Renewing of the mind. A pattern that took years to build is not undone by one decision, and this verse never promised it would be.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

Thoughts taken captive. You are not obliged to follow every image that arrives.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Submit, then resist. Resisting without submitting is willpower with a verse attached.

Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Flee — and follow after righteousness with others. The second half is the one most men skip.

He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Hiding keeps it alive. Confessing and forsaking is where mercy is found. Secrecy is the thing that makes a habit into a prison.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Faithful and just to forgive, and to cleanse. Not reluctantly, and not on a quota.

There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

No condemnation. Shame has never once produced a day of freedom; it only produces hiding, and hiding is where this grows.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

A man who had done serious damage asking for a clean heart rather than a second chance at behaving.

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

The Lord knows how to deliver. Deliverance is his competence before it is your effort.

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

A very present help — not distant, not later, but in the moment it hits.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Fear and shame make the pull stronger. The answer offered is presence: I am with thee.

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Through Christ, who strengthens. Paul wrote it about enduring every circumstance, and this is one.

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Greater is he that is in you. The contest is not even.

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

More than conquerors, through him that loved us. The victory starts from being loved, not from earning it.