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iQuestions Faculty, June Hunt 
 
 
Question: 
 
 I have a bad habit I can’t seem to break. How can I overcome this 
temptation?  
 
Answer: 
 
Have you ever said, “I’ll really stop. I know I need to stop. I’ve got to 
quit?” And so, we’ve got this habit. We have this temptation in our 
lives, and we just keep falling into temptation over and over again. Or, 
choosing what is tempting for us. 
 
So, if you’re going to get victory over whatever habit or temptation, I 
find that it’s best for me to have three targets. Have you ever been 
target-practicing or shot something like a bow and arrow, or a rifle, or 
a handgun? I learned to shoot a .22, and there would be a target, and 
you would take careful aim. And, the good thing about taking careful 
aim is, you are so focused on the target; you aren’t focusing on what’s 
going on to the right or to the left, or behind you, or up above you. 
You’re focusing right on that target. And that’s what you have to do. 
 
So, what’s the target? The target, number one, is to be conformed to 
the character of Christ. So, if that’s the number one target, that’s what 
you say in your mind. You say, “Lord, I will do whatever it takes to be 
conformed to the character of Christ.” By the way, you don’t say it just 
once. It’s kind of like, you don’t just look for a second, and then you 
go on, if you’re going to be shooting a rifle. You’re going to keep 
careful aim, and you notice your breathing, and you take a slow pull of 
the trigger. You’re going to be very intentional. Target number one: 
“I’ll do whatever it takes to be conformed to the character of Christ.” 
 
 
Number two: “God’s priority is for me to change my thinking.” Some 
people say, “I can’t. I can’t overcome this. It’s too hard.”  Well, 
nothing is too hard for God—if you have Jesus in you. Jesus is God. 
The Bible says, “It’s Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 
1:27) So, it’s not too hard for Him.  The Bible says in Romans 12:2: 
“Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be 
transformed by the renewing of your mind.” So, you line up your 
thinking with His thinking. What has He said? He said that you can 
have a transformed life.  
 
Target number three: God’s plan is that you literally rely on Christ’s 
power within you to change you. The Bible says in Philippians 4:13: “I 
can do all things through Christ, Who strengthens me.” How does this 
work? Let’s say, in smoking—a person who says; “I know I’ve got to 
quit. I know it’s bad for me, oh, but I just want that cigarette. I just 
want that, oh. I know I’ve got to quit smoking cigarettes, I know I 
shouldn’t get that extra pack,” and if you keep talking about that 
cigarette, cigarette, cigarette, you’re going to crave that cigarette. So, 
what’s the solution? You don’t dwell on the cigarette. What you do is, 
you say; “God’s highest purpose for me is to be conformed to the 
character of Christ.” Was Jesus mastered by something else? No. He 
literally yielded His will to the will of the Father. And, He lived a life 
that literally reflected the Father. You are to reflect the character of 
Christ.  
 
So, you say it over and over when you’re tempted; “I’ll do whatever it 
takes to conform to the character of Christ. I know I can conquer this. 
I’ll quit saying I can’t. Of course I can. And how? In the power of 
Christ.” 
 
So, how do you practically do that? You’ve got to have a plan. What’s 
the plan?  Two approaches: One, you can taper off, and you choose to 
limit what you buy. And each day you have fewer cigarettes. You 
literally taper off.  
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Others say, “I can’t do it that way. I would never be able to do it that 
way. I have to go cold turkey. I cannot do it any other way.” The most 
important thing is, the moment you have that craving—and you will 
have a craving—you say, “I’ll do whatever it takes to conform to the 
character of Christ. I know I can change, and I will change with His 
power within me.” 
 
That way, you have lasting change. If, every time you were tempted, 
you continue to say, again, “My target is not self-gratification. My 
target is not feeling good; having comfort. My target is to be 
conformed to the character of Christ.” I promise you, you will have 
success. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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