Over the years of working with people with various sin habits and addictions and seeing some overcome the bondage they were in and others struggle for year’s sometimes gaining some ground and then back they fell where they were. I would give counsel and advice that some seemed able to follow and do but others struggled big time trying to consistently follow the disciplines. As I worked with various people over the years it was a complicated thing trying to find keys to success. Every person was different and seemed to have various issues that were contributing factors to their struggle. With some there were events in their past that seemed to cement them into a place of no growth or change. Getting past those often took a lot of time.

But with all the differences and variables in people’s journey toward holiness, there seemed to be several common characteristics. One was a deep and genuine grieving over their failures in life and the longing to conquer them.

Psalms 51:3 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me.

Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

A second was a total and complete admission that they couldn’t win this war without God’s help and strength, the cry to God for help was loud and clear.

Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

And the third was a lot of help from others that was sought after humbly. The help from others was mostly in the form of encouragement and prayer, lots of prayer.

Hebrews 3:13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.