How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit: Even When You Feel Like Saying Yes

by Erwin W. Lutzer, Jack Hibbs (Foreword)

Don’t Give Up—You Can Still Break Free

You've prayed. You've surrendered your sin to God. You've been more zealous about reading the Bible. But what do you do when you still can't shake your bad habits?

After discouragement and defeat set in, you need a dose of genuine hope and some biblical, time-tested guidance on breaking free for good. More than just simple suggestions for behavioral change, How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit will help you overcome the struggles in your life through a lasting transformation of attitude and heart. Dr. Erwin Lutzer shows you
  the three essential ground rules you must accept to truly change the secret to doing away with tempting thoughts rather than rehearsing them the roles of God, Satan, and your loved ones in your success or failure  
You've resolved to break a stubborn habit. Aided by biblical insights and reflection questions in every chapter, you will discover the grace, courage, and wisdom to step out of the past and into a more hope-filled future.

Genres: Christian

256 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Erwin W. Lutzer is senior pastor of The Moody Church in Chicago. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Loyola University, he is the author of numerous books, including the Gold Medallion Award winner "Hitler's Cross" and the best seller "One Minute After You Die". He is also a teacher on radio programs heard on more than 700 stations throughout the United States and the world, including "Songs in the Night," "The Moody Church Hour," and the daily feature "Running to Win." He and his wife, Rebecca, live in the Chicago area and have three married children and seven grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jeffrey McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read!

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. How to Say No to a Stubborn Habit is a helpful guide for any Christian seeking to overcome sin. It successfully balances our need to depend on God with our need to discipline our actions, and includes plenty of practical tips and discussion/reflection questions. The book shows us that God is the one who can transform us, but we have to be willing participants for lasting change to occur.

As with any Christian book (besides the Bible), this one should be read with discernment. There were a couple instances of slight name it and claim it theology, and the author often attributed emotional details or motivations to Scripture stories that weren’t explicitly in the text. Likely this was done to make his points more compelling, but it was something I noticed frequently, especially in the satanic activity chapter.

✝️ FOR YOUR BIBLE STUDY: lots of great discussion questions in each chapter, plus a small section of tips for small group study at the back of the book.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic book offering biblical insight, practical wisdom, and edifying encouragement. I always enjoy the author’s writing style and look forward to his next book. Thank you, Harvest House for a complimentary copy!