breaking bad habits

²²to set aside your earlier behavior, the former man, who was corrupted, by means of desire, unto error, ²³and so be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴and so put on the new man, who, in accord with God, is created in justice and in the holiness of truth.

¹³Temptation should not take hold of you, except what is human. For God is faithful, and he will not permit you to be tempted beyond your ability. Instead, he will effect his Providence, even during temptation, so that you may be able to bear it.

¹And so, I beg you, brothers, by the mercy of God, that you offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, with the subservience of your mind. ²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

¹³Everything is possible in him who has strengthened me.

¹³Whoever hides his crimes will not be guided. But whoever will have confessed and abandoned them shall overtake mercy.

⁹If we confess our sins, then he is faithful and just, so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity.

¹⁵Do not choose to love the world, nor the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶For all that is in the world is the desire of the flesh, and the desire of the eyes, and the arrogance of a life which is not of the Father, but is of the world. ¹⁷And the world is passing away, with its desire. But whoever does the will of God abides unto eternity.

¹²Blessed is the man who suffers temptation. For when he has been proven, he shall receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him.

²⁷Provide no place for the devil.

⁹And so, let us not be deficient in doing good. For in due time, we shall reap without fail.

¹⁶Do you not know that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives within you?

⁵Therefore, mortify your body, while it is upon the earth. For because of fornication, impurity, lust, evil desires, and avarice, which are a kind of service to idols, ⁶the wrath of God has overwhelmed the sons of unbelief. ⁷You, too, walked in these things, in times past, when you were living among them. ⁸But now you must set aside all these things: anger, indignation, malice, blasphemy, and indecent speech from your mouth. ⁹Do not lie to one another. Strip yourselves of the old man, with his deeds, ¹⁰and clothe yourself with the new man, who has been renewed by knowledge, in accord with the image of the One who created him,

³³Do not be led astray. Evil communication corrupts good morals.

⁴⁶But why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I say?

¹⁶Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be saved. For the unremitting prayer of a just person prevails over many things.

²And do not choose to be conformed to this age, but instead choose to be reformed in the newness of your mind, so that you may demonstrate what is the will of God: what is good, and what is well-pleasing, and what is perfect.

²²So be doers of the Word, and not listeners only, deceiving yourselves. ²³For if anyone is a listener of the Word, but not also a doer, he is comparable to a man gazing into a mirror upon the face that he was born with; ²⁴and after considering himself, he went away and promptly forgot what he had seen. ²⁵But he who gazes upon the perfect law of liberty, and who remains in it, is not a forgetful hearer, but instead a doer of the work. He shall be blessed in what he does.

⁷Cast all your cares upon him, for he takes care of you.