Breaking Bad Habits Using Prayer

[CHRISTINE77]

How many of you have broken a bad habit using prayer to strengthen you? I would like to hear personal stories, such as quitting drinking, smoking, diet problems, sexual problems. Tell me how Jesus/God or Saints helped you to overcome your bad habits.

 

[cameraguy55]

I am also very interested in hearing stories!

 

[Monica4316]

I used to be tempted with a horrible sin repeatedly and begged God to take this away, but nothing helped… I was Protestant at the time… then I realized God is leading me to the Church and eventually felt comfortable enough to pray to Mary. (this was a big stumbling block for me before, and I know God must have given me some special grace for this). One day, I asked Mary to pray for me that I’d not be tempted anymore and wouldn’t ever sin in this way again… and my prayer was answered that instant I’m so grateful to God and to Mary that I was finally set free. I know it’s because of Our Lady’s intercession. Now whenever people say that Mary can’t hear our prayers, I want to tell them this story lol.

I think Mary’s intercession is especially powerful if you want to be more humble or more pure / chaste.

 

[Serap]

I used to give in to personal gratification

I really didn’t want to do it anymore and so I began to pray the Rosary. Mary took away my temptations completely. It has now been 4 months since I did it and it’s hard to believe b/c before when I was tempted, I couldn’t sleep unless I did it. Now I pray the Rosary and sleep like a baby.

It was a struggle at first, but Mary helped me conquer it. If you really want to please God, go to Mary. The Rosary is amazing.

 

[ericka1701]

I used to give in to personal gratification

I really didn’t want to do it anymore and so I began to pray the Rosary. Mary took away my temptations completely. It has now been 4 months since I did it and it’s hard to believe b/c before when I was tempted, I couldn’t sleep unless I did it. Now I pray the Rosary and sleep like a baby.

It was a struggle at first, but Mary helped me conquer it. If you really want to please God, go to Mary. The Rosary is amazing.

Ditto! I started praying the rosary at the first thought, and the first few times I started crying because the temptation was so strong that it felt like it was overcoming me. But I stayed focused and I kept struggling with it, and now it has been almost 3 months.

I also used to self-injure, somtimes multiple times in the same day. I started playing the 15 minute game (well, I’ll wait 15 minutes to see if I still want to, and if I do then, I’ll go ahead… although most of the times, I played the 15 minute game for days at a time) a few years ago, and it started lessening the frequency of cutting, but I was still slipping up fairly regularly (every other week or so). Over a year ago, I started praying to St. Michael in addition to the 15 minute game, and I’ve only slipped up about 5 times this past year. And now, it’s been 4 months since I’ve cut.

Next up, smoking! But that’s almost a month away…

Thanks for the topic… breaking bad habits without prayer is almost impossible (it has been done, though), and I know that I would not have been able to break my bad habits without prayer.

God Bless!
Ericka

 

[CHRISTINE77]

Ditto! I started praying the rosary at the first thought, and the first few times I started crying because the temptation was so strong that it felt like it was overcoming me. But I stayed focused and I kept struggling with it, and now it has been almost 3 months.

I also used to self-injure, somtimes multiple times in the same day. I started playing the 15 minute game (well, I’ll wait 15 minutes to see if I still want to, and if I do then, I’ll go ahead… although most of the times, I played the 15 minute game for days at a time) a few years ago, and it started lessening the frequency of cutting, but I was still slipping up fairly regularly (every other week or so). Over a year ago, I started praying to St. Michael in addition to the 15 minute game, and I’ve only slipped up about 5 times this past year. And now, it’s been 4 months since I’ve cut.

Next up, smoking! But that’s almost a month away…

Thanks for the topic… breaking bad habits without prayer is almost impossible (it has been done, though), and I know that I would not have been able to break my bad habits without prayer.

God Bless!
Ericka

Thank you! 5 days without smoking now, and boy, do I pray a lot. I think it’s the only thing that is carrying me through at the bad tempting moments. Thank heavens for God, he is my strength. I have been praying a lot of Hail Marys too. I’m so glad to know that it is working for others too. Bless you all!

 

[kevstar31]

I have found a short prayer followed by meditation on scripture to be helpful in cases of sexual temptation.

God bless,
Kevin

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

I just keep praying and hope the bad habits will eventually go. I used to pray for specific things and see if they happen, They often did and sometimes quickly. I think the important thing is to pray and cooperate with the graces you receive. Grace is always given but we don’t always use it wisely. That’s the reason we sin so much. Perhaps we should pray more that we don’t waste grace. Especially me.