VERSES ABOUT VICES AND ADDICTIONS

Addiction and bad habits can be so destructive. Think about it, addiction is clinging to something—a behavior, a substance, an activity, even a person—that's actually harming you. So many of us struggle with these things, feeling trapped by a vice or an addiction. Sometimes, we feel like it's because of our past.

But here's the truth: in God, we're free. Christ set us free from all of that and forgave our sins. If you keep dwelling on the past, those chains can really hold you back. Sometimes, these struggles can even stem from negative spiritual influences, finding a foothold and coming to light when we unknowingly open a door, giving the enemy a legal right to step in.

You have the power to let go of what's binding you. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any areas of bondage you need to address. Receive God's forgiveness and His healing. He's there for you.

I pray that we all find freedom from anything that's hurting us and holding us back. Just like it says in John 8:36, "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

When a man takes a new wife, he shall not go out in the army, neither shall he be assigned any business. He shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer his wife whom he has taken.

Let all that you do be done in love.

If a man prevails against one who is alone, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

But now faith, hope, and love remain—these three. The greatest of these is love.

Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

Let marriage be held in honour amongst all, and let the bed be undefiled; but God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.

Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour of the LORD.

Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.

and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;

and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately towards his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.

So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.

A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.

The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”

Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;

bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body, and be thankful.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh.

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned amongst you, as becomes saints;

because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”

This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.

Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks.

Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbour’s good.

with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him who is the head, Christ,

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the saviour of the body.

But as the assembly is subject to Christ, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without defect.

Even so husbands also ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself.

For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly,

But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned amongst you, as becomes saints;

because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones.

“For this cause a man will leave his father and mother and will be joined to his wife. Then the two will become one flesh.”

This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Christ and the assembly.

Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the assembly and gave himself up for her,

For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the saviour of the body.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will be done away with. Where there are various languages, they will cease. Where there is knowledge, it will be done away with.

But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honour.

Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Don’t strive with a man without cause, if he has done you no harm.

Don’t envy the man of violence. Choose none of his ways.

For the perverse is an abomination to the LORD, but his friendship is with the upright.

The LORD’s curse is in the house of the wicked, but he blesses the habitation of the righteous.

Surely he mocks the mockers, but he gives grace to the humble.

The wise will inherit glory, but shame will be the promotion of fools.

So you will find favour, and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behaviour of their wives without a word,

For, “He who would love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.

Let him turn away from evil and do good. Let him seek peace and pursue it.

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open to their prayer; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Now who will harm you if you become imitators of that which is good?

But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “Don’t fear what they fear, neither be troubled.”

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,

having a good conscience. Thus, while you are spoken against as evildoers, they may be disappointed who curse your good way of life in Christ.

For it is better, if it is God’s will, that you suffer for doing what is right than for doing evil.

Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring you to God, being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit,

in whom he also went and preached to the spirits in prison,

seeing your pure behaviour in fear.

who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.

This is a symbol of baptism, which now saves you—not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience towards God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, angels and authorities and powers being made subject to him.

Let your beauty come not from the outward adorning of braiding your hair, and of wearing gold ornaments or of putting on fine clothing,

but from the hidden person of the heart, in the incorruptible adornment of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.

For this is how in the past the holy women who hoped in God also adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands.

So Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose children you now are if you do well and are not put in fear by any terror.

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honour to the woman as to the weaker vessel, as also being joint heirs of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

And above all things be earnest in your love amongst yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.

The LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Through wisdom a house is built; by understanding it is established;

Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your life of vanity, which he has given you under the sun, all your days of vanity, for that is your portion in life, and in your labour in which you labour under the sun.

Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another.

desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say nor about what they strongly affirm.

If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

Love is patient and is kind. Love doesn’t envy. Love doesn’t brag, is not proud,

doesn’t behave itself inappropriately, doesn’t seek its own way, is not provoked, takes no account of evil;

doesn’t rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

My beloved is mine, and I am his. He browses amongst the lilies.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all wrongs.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’

but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Set me as a seal on your heart, as a seal on your arm; for love is strong as death. Jealousy is as cruel as Sheol. Its flashes are flashes of fire, a very flame of the LORD.

Many waters can’t quench love, neither can floods drown it. If a man would give all the wealth of his house for love, he would be utterly scorned.

God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

God blessed them. God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love.

Who can find a worthy woman? For her value is far above rubies.

The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.

She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.

with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

But you didn’t learn Christ that way,

if indeed you heard him and were taught in him, even as truth is in Jesus:

that you put away, as concerning your former way of life, the old man that grows corrupt after the lusts of deceit,

and that you be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

and put on the new man, who in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbour, for we are members of one another.

“Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath,

and don’t give place to the devil.

Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labour, producing with his hands something that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need.

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for building others up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

But, because of sexual immoralities, let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband.

Let each man stay in that calling in which he was called.

Were you called being a bondservant? Don’t let that bother you, but if you get an opportunity to become free, use it.

For he who was called in the Lord being a bondservant is the Lord’s free man. Likewise he who was called being free is Christ’s bondservant.

You were bought with a price. Don’t become bondservants of men.

Brothers, let each man, in whatever condition he was called, stay in that condition with God.

Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord, but I give my judgement as one who has obtained mercy from the Lord to be trustworthy.

Therefore I think that because of the distress that is on us, it’s good for a man to remain as he is.

Are you bound to a wife? Don’t seek to be freed. Are you free from a wife? Don’t seek a wife.

But if you marry, you have not sinned. If a virgin marries, she has not sinned. Yet such will have oppression in the flesh, and I want to spare you.

But I say this, brothers: the time is short. From now on, both those who have wives may be as though they had none;

Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.

and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;

and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately towards his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.

So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.

A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.

The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgement, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.

Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

make my joy full by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind;

For I have no one else like-minded, who will truly care about you.

For they all seek their own, not the things of Jesus Christ.

But you know that he has proved himself. As a child serves a father, so he served with me in furtherance of the Good News.

Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it will go with me.

But I trust in the Lord that I myself also will come shortly.

But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and your apostle and servant of my need,

since he longed for you all, and was very troubled because you had heard that he was sick.

For indeed he was sick nearly to death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only, but on me also, that I might not have sorrow on sorrow.

I have sent him therefore the more diligently, that when you see him again, you may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honour,

doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

because for the work of Christ he came near to death, risking his life to supply that which was lacking in your service towards me.

each of you not just looking to his own things, but each of you also to the things of others.

In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate to one another; in honour prefer one another,

For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

Better is a dinner of herbs, where love is, than a fattened calf with hatred.

I desire therefore that the younger widows marry, bear children, rule the household, and give no occasion to the adversary for insulting.

Unless the LORD builds the house, they who build it labour in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman guards it in vain.

Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.

and those who weep, as though they didn’t weep; and those who rejoice, as though they didn’t rejoice; and those who buy, as though they didn’t possess;

and those who use the world, as not using it to the fullest. For the mode of this world passes away.

But I desire to have you to be free from cares. He who is unmarried is concerned for the things of the Lord, how he may please the Lord;

but he who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife.

There is also a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband.

This I say for your own benefit, not that I may ensnare you, but for that which is appropriate, and that you may attend to the Lord without distraction.

But if any man thinks that he is behaving inappropriately towards his virgin, if she is past the flower of her age, and if need so requires, let him do what he desires. He doesn’t sin. Let them marry.

But he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no urgency, but has power over his own will, and has determined in his own heart to keep his own virgin, does well.

So then both he who gives his own virgin in marriage does well, and he who doesn’t give her in marriage does better.

A wife is bound by law for as long as her husband lives; but if the husband is dead, she is free to be married to whomever she desires, only in the Lord.

The wife doesn’t have authority over her own body, but the husband does. Likewise also the husband doesn’t have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

But she is happier if she stays as she is, in my judgement, and I think that I also have God’s Spirit.

Don’t deprive one another, unless it is by consent for a season, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and may be together again, that Satan doesn’t tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,

and said, ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall be joined to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh’?

So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, don’t let man tear apart.”

But to the married I command—not I, but the Lord—that the wife not leave her husband

(but if she departs, let her remain unmarried, or else be reconciled to her husband), and that the husband not leave his wife.

“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’

but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

We love him, because he first loved us.

Also delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Love doesn’t harm a neighbour. Love therefore is the fulfilment of the law.

But if anyone doesn’t provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I am my beloved’s. His desire is towards me.

Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?

House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the LORD.

You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride. You have ravished my heart with one of your eyes, with one chain of your neck.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer.

Prayer