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31-Day Devotionals for Life
Addictive Habits: Changing for Good
It begins with a choice . . . but soon that choice overpowers and traps you. You both love and hate your habit, and it begins to define you. Addiction is a blend of choice and enslavement—but change is possible through God and his Word. These daily devotionals remind us of God's truth and help us apply it to our lives, addressing our responsibility for addiction, our relationship with the God who can free us, and techniques for first restructuring our lives and then remaining faithful long-term.
In the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series, biblical counselors and Bible teachers guide you through Scripture passages that speak to specific situations or struggles, helping you to apply God's Word to your life in practical ways day after day.
In the 31-Day Devotionals for Life series, biblical counselors and Bible teachers guide you through Scripture passages that speak to specific situations or struggles, helping you to apply God's Word to your life in practical ways day after day.
96 pages, Paperback
First published September 25, 2018
40 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
David R. Dunham
6 books2 followersDavid R. Dunham ministers to people with addictions as pastor of counseling and discipleship at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Roseville, Michigan. He also writes and speaks about ministry, counseling, and addiction for the Biblical Counseling Coalition.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 8, 2018
Freedom begins with our willingness to accept our own role in cultivating our addictive habits. While addictions turn into bondage, they always begin with choices.
Because we were created to worship, we can easily turn that worship into an addictive habit. We can worship someone, something, and it all begins with a desire. This book does not claim to solve your addictive habits but it does give you a clear picture of why and what causes our addictive habits. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 is just the beginning of cultivating a heart of worship and breaking down those habits that trap and enslave you.
Each day starts with scripture and a question. i.e. What defines you? That question leads you to untangle the mess of addictions. The chapter ends with reflection and action. The text is based on the 4 R's. Responsibility, Relationships, Restructuring and Remaining. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this text is in battling addictions as you walk with the Lord. I Highly recommend.
Some helpful quotes:
If we worship our way into the problem of addiction, we must worship our way out too. The bible tells us that worshipping Jesus makes us look more like him. As we increasingly behold the glory of the Lord.
When our addictive habits tell us that we need more, thankfulness reminds us that we already have more than we deserve. There is power in gratitude.
A Special Thank you to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Because we were created to worship, we can easily turn that worship into an addictive habit. We can worship someone, something, and it all begins with a desire. This book does not claim to solve your addictive habits but it does give you a clear picture of why and what causes our addictive habits. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 is just the beginning of cultivating a heart of worship and breaking down those habits that trap and enslave you.
Each day starts with scripture and a question. i.e. What defines you? That question leads you to untangle the mess of addictions. The chapter ends with reflection and action. The text is based on the 4 R's. Responsibility, Relationships, Restructuring and Remaining. I cannot begin to tell you how helpful this text is in battling addictions as you walk with the Lord. I Highly recommend.
Some helpful quotes:
If we worship our way into the problem of addiction, we must worship our way out too. The bible tells us that worshipping Jesus makes us look more like him. As we increasingly behold the glory of the Lord.
When our addictive habits tell us that we need more, thankfulness reminds us that we already have more than we deserve. There is power in gratitude.
A Special Thank you to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
October 16, 2018
As someone with a medical background, I want to start by saying I do not see anything in this book that conflicts with any proven scientific facts about addiction. It does (unintentionally, but unavoidably) butt up against some of the popular leaping conclusions others make from the scientific facts (such as we have no free will and are limited by our neurologic weaknesses/ programs), but I see where this book offers valid sustainable hope in all the places where those leaping conclusions leave off or outright fail.
This devotional can be used as a practical roadmap for fighting many different perpetual/life-dominating sins, not just the hot-topic addictions people usually think of. The good news of the Gospel (that Jesus came to save sinners) is always the driving force behind the roadmap to change that this devotional offers.
The devotional is broken into 4 stages: (Your) Responsibility, Relationship (with God), Restructuring (your life), and Remaining (in Christ). These 4 stages can be used to address many personal struggles (anger, anxiety), not just addiction. I appreciate that the Responsibility section starts with foundational concepts that provide fuel for the more active steps later on. The daily chapters give the reader time to wrestle through each concept before building upon it the following day. As the author compassionately explains our own responsibility in our addiction, he points forward toward hope and redemption, rather than backwards toward condemnation. As he moves on into the Relationship stage, the author explains how our personal responsibility and our dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit work together in our transformation process. The Restructuring section gives practical advice for both physically and spiritually avoiding and combatting temptation. The Remaining section points toward the ultimate goal of becoming more Christ-like in your life, rather than simply quitting one bad thing.
My two personal favorite sections are about maintaining awe of God and using thankfulness to knock out all the underlying emotions and thoughts that drive us back toward addiction. These are the two quickest and most thorough methods I use to clean out my own head and heart when they become messy houses.
This devotional is scripture saturated, without going over the layman’s head. It is useful for both the struggling individual and counselor (family, friend, church member, etc.) hoping to help the struggling. There are so many useful tools packed into this skinny little book. Readers will likely be inspired to go back and find other resources to expand upon topics introduced in the daily two-page summaries. Each day ends with some practical steps the reader can take, so they are not just reading without doing. Each day ends with hope for the discouraged reader contemplating giving up.
The author provides so many examples of individuals he has personally known who have been redeemed and transformed. In a way, the book is not just a roadmap, but is a story of the Gospel itself. Your own story can become one of redemption and transformation, through Christ Jesus.
This devotional can be used as a practical roadmap for fighting many different perpetual/life-dominating sins, not just the hot-topic addictions people usually think of. The good news of the Gospel (that Jesus came to save sinners) is always the driving force behind the roadmap to change that this devotional offers.
The devotional is broken into 4 stages: (Your) Responsibility, Relationship (with God), Restructuring (your life), and Remaining (in Christ). These 4 stages can be used to address many personal struggles (anger, anxiety), not just addiction. I appreciate that the Responsibility section starts with foundational concepts that provide fuel for the more active steps later on. The daily chapters give the reader time to wrestle through each concept before building upon it the following day. As the author compassionately explains our own responsibility in our addiction, he points forward toward hope and redemption, rather than backwards toward condemnation. As he moves on into the Relationship stage, the author explains how our personal responsibility and our dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit work together in our transformation process. The Restructuring section gives practical advice for both physically and spiritually avoiding and combatting temptation. The Remaining section points toward the ultimate goal of becoming more Christ-like in your life, rather than simply quitting one bad thing.
My two personal favorite sections are about maintaining awe of God and using thankfulness to knock out all the underlying emotions and thoughts that drive us back toward addiction. These are the two quickest and most thorough methods I use to clean out my own head and heart when they become messy houses.
This devotional is scripture saturated, without going over the layman’s head. It is useful for both the struggling individual and counselor (family, friend, church member, etc.) hoping to help the struggling. There are so many useful tools packed into this skinny little book. Readers will likely be inspired to go back and find other resources to expand upon topics introduced in the daily two-page summaries. Each day ends with some practical steps the reader can take, so they are not just reading without doing. Each day ends with hope for the discouraged reader contemplating giving up.
The author provides so many examples of individuals he has personally known who have been redeemed and transformed. In a way, the book is not just a roadmap, but is a story of the Gospel itself. Your own story can become one of redemption and transformation, through Christ Jesus.
July 12, 2025
I read this book to assist a friend who is working to overcome an addictive habit. The book may be summarized as follows:
An addictive behavior occurs because the root of our problem is a wrong desire/love for sin, revealing that our allegiance is not totally given to God. It feels (and is) beyond our control because the power of God’s Spirit through Jesus Christ is necessary to deliver us from sin, which is self-chosen bondage. Deliverance requires right thinking based on the truth of God’s word and right choices based on our identity in Christ and His power at work in us. We can change by prioritizing living for the glory of God, focusing on Jesus, fighting temptation, and cutting out those things that cause us to sin.
The book broadly uses the term “addictive habit” rather than the more common term “addiction.” This intentional wording choice has two important purposes: to emphasize that there is always a component of personal responsibility for any habit, which is not an indication of our fundamental identity or a “sickness” which has infected us without our consent; and to assert the truth that we are not victims but rather have the ability, responsibility, and hope for change as we turn from sin and turn to Jesus.
God’s word is the most powerful force in the universe, so it’s crucial to connect the Word with our struggles. The book provides Biblically grounded principles for overcoming an addictive habit in four sections: Responsibility, Relationship, Restructuring, Remaining. The Bible tells us the hard truth that any addictive habit is sin reflecting a worship problem and that we are responsible for our sinful choices even while we are enslaved to them. The Word also shouts the transformative truth that God has a solution for our sin in Jesus Christ, who rescues us from our plight, reorients our direction, and transforms our life. No lasting change is possible solely on our own, but true and lasting change is possible through a relationship with Jesus and fellowship with others who follow Him.
An addictive behavior occurs because the root of our problem is a wrong desire/love for sin, revealing that our allegiance is not totally given to God. It feels (and is) beyond our control because the power of God’s Spirit through Jesus Christ is necessary to deliver us from sin, which is self-chosen bondage. Deliverance requires right thinking based on the truth of God’s word and right choices based on our identity in Christ and His power at work in us. We can change by prioritizing living for the glory of God, focusing on Jesus, fighting temptation, and cutting out those things that cause us to sin.
The book broadly uses the term “addictive habit” rather than the more common term “addiction.” This intentional wording choice has two important purposes: to emphasize that there is always a component of personal responsibility for any habit, which is not an indication of our fundamental identity or a “sickness” which has infected us without our consent; and to assert the truth that we are not victims but rather have the ability, responsibility, and hope for change as we turn from sin and turn to Jesus.
God’s word is the most powerful force in the universe, so it’s crucial to connect the Word with our struggles. The book provides Biblically grounded principles for overcoming an addictive habit in four sections: Responsibility, Relationship, Restructuring, Remaining. The Bible tells us the hard truth that any addictive habit is sin reflecting a worship problem and that we are responsible for our sinful choices even while we are enslaved to them. The Word also shouts the transformative truth that God has a solution for our sin in Jesus Christ, who rescues us from our plight, reorients our direction, and transforms our life. No lasting change is possible solely on our own, but true and lasting change is possible through a relationship with Jesus and fellowship with others who follow Him.
March 28, 2025
I tried to read this slowly, as the devotional it's designed to be. Nevertheless, in my work with the addiction community, I would say that this is not so much a devotional but rather a book containing 31 days of good, Christian advice related to addictive habits. There is a kind of deeply rooted hopelessness and shame in an addicts life that good advice just doesn't touch. I found myself yearning over and over for the author to lead me to what he means and how Jesus meets me in all the things I need to do. For instance, at the end of Day 22, he says in reference to making a game plan for having to face addictive temptations, "Make your plans, expect hardships and temptations, and reevaluate regularly - but look to Jesus most of all." How?! What does looking to Jesus look like as part of my planning? This is what makes this more of a good-advice book than a devotional. I imagine the author is really good at helping addicts in one-on-one and group settings, full of grace and words of mercy. It just doesn't come out in this short work.
January 24, 2020
I know this author (officiant of our wedding, past associate pastor, and friend) so I thought I should give his first book a read! I’m so glad I did. While I don’t feel that I have a serious addiction at this time, I do feel that this resource was helpful to me if I’d just trade out the word “addiction” for “sin” or “sinful” at most times.
I would highly recommend this book as a resource for any church or biblical counselor when dealing with addictive habits.
I would highly recommend this book as a resource for any church or biblical counselor when dealing with addictive habits.
February 11, 2019
Challenging yet compassionate. Helpful for all types of addictions.
May 5, 2019
This seems to be a great series to walk through with members of your church. The applications at the end of each day are practical and gospel-centered.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews