Things with a strong hold on you 

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.” (1 Cor. 10:13 ESV)

Another thing that can have a strong hold on a person is temptation. Of course, everybody has to deal with temptation; even Jesus did so in the desert (but without sin). But some people have severe temptation, perhaps from an earlier dependence on a substance such as alcohol or other drugs. Or it could be a sexual temptation, or something like gambling or eating, and they try to deal with it constantly.

But there is good news

The promise in the passage at top tells you that God will not let you be tempted above your ability to withstand it. And He says he will provide a way for you to endure it, and even to escape from it.  

Use the Word of God

“The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  (2 Corinthians 10:4–5, NIV)

Some practical things to do

·      Learn to recognize it and run away. The Bible tells us numerous times that the best strategy for battling temptation is to run from it (1 Cor. 10:14; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim. 2:22). 

·      Become educated about what tempts you. Know how to recognize it and where it is found.

·      Develop a plan to protect yourself from it. It may mean you must make a few hard personal choices about who you spend time with and where you go. If you are struggling with alcohol, for instance, you wouldn’t spend time with drinkers, and you would not go to places where liquor is present.The Bible says it this way: “And make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Rom. 13:14 ESV)

Finally

Remember that God is ever-present with you and fighting to give you victory.

“For the Lord your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.” (Deut. 20:4  ESV) 

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV) 

“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57 ESV)