How to Defeat Harmful Habits (Counseling Through the Bible Series) (2 page)

It’s easy for me to understand the exhilaration of the mountain climber pictured on the cover of this book: He has just climbed a huge
mountain
—and I have just completed a huge
manuscript
! Both feats are cause for great celebration.

I feel sure the climber didn’t make his journey without the help of others going before…marking the way…blazing the trail.

Giving credit where credit is due, this book would not exist were it not for the inexhaustible efforts of my very own “trekking team”—researchers and writers, editors and proofreaders—who helped me take six of my topical biblical counseling manuals (called
Biblical Counseling Keys
) and elevate their quality until they were ready for release in the volume you now hold in your hands.

It is, therefore, with the height of gratitude that I acknowledge:

Angie White
for overseeing another mountainous publishing project—from our first steps at base camp to our long climb up to the summit. Your project management skills kept us on course, moving continually upward.

Barbara Spruill, Jill Prohaska
, and
Elizabeth Cunningham
for your research, writing, and editing. You took our
Keys
to new heights, adding the accounts of real strugglers to help other climbers find a “toehold” for their own arduous ascent. And…to
Carolyn White
for finding 24,000 words to cut so we could make it to the top!

Titus O’Bryant
,
Phillip Bleecker
,
Karen Williams
,
Bea Garner
, and
Trudie Jackson
for your impeccable research and citations, your detailed editing and proofreading. Without your surefooted accuracy, we’d have been lost in a landslide. And…to
Kelley Basatneh
, who keyed in the very last words at the very last minute, getting us to the top of the peak.

Frank Billman
,
Karen Billman
,
Jim Cress
, and
Ellen Teall
for sharing your riveting testimonies. Your perseverance through personal pain proves that addiction doesn’t have to be a life-sapping sentence, but can become a life-changing testimony that profoundly inspires people—like me!

Todd Clements, MD
, and
Cheryl LaMastra, LPC
, The Clements Clinic;
Adam Myers, MD
, Methodist Health System;
John Boop
, Betty Ford Center;
Sharon Seagraves
, The Elisa Project; and
Shannon McGowan Markle
for your subject-matter expertise, content review, and numerous contributions. Your insights served as seasoned trail guides.

Kay Deakins
for your whatever-the-need service throughout the writing of the
Biblical Counseling Keys
, upon which this book is based. For 25 years you’ve been my intrepid climbing partner—going before me, clearing the way, helping me scale the next slope.

Steve Miller
from Harvest House for your patience and thought-filled input…your patience and gentle prompting…your patience and prevailing grace. Never unnerved by my slower-than-usual progress, you encouraged me at every turn…then applied your meticulously-honed editorial skills to ensure a super-practical travel guide for all who want and need success for their climb.

I readily acknowledge that the Lord has been my personal Guide on my journey through life…and certainly, on my ascent up this mammoth mountain. Most gratefully I say to Him, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”
¹
Unquestionably, He has been my security, “He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights!”
²

Indeed, He has led our team up heights we had never planned, heights we had not thought possible—heights full of hope. So now, if you need help, if you need healing, I offer you my hand of hope. Come join us on the journey!

Acknowledgments

P
ART
1: W
ELCOME TO THE
W
ORLD OF
A
DDICTIONS

1. T
HE
I
NNER
W
ORLD OF THE
A
DDICT
:
A Tale of Two Siblings

2. T
HE
W
ORLD OF
H
ABITS AND
A
DDICTIONS

Success in Self-control

I. Definitions of Habits and Addictions

II. Characteristics of Habits and Addictions

III. Causes of Destructive Habits

IV. Steps to Solution

How to Hit the Bull’s-eye

Breaking the Habit of Smoking

Breaking the Habit of Overspending

3. T
HE
W
ORLD OF
A
LCOHOL AND
D
RUG
A
BUSE

Breaking Free and Staying Free

I. Definitions of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

II. Characteristics of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

III. Causes of Alcohol and Drug Abuse

IV. Steps to Solution

4. T
HE
W
ORLD OF
A
NOREXIA AND
B
ULIMIA

Control that Is Out of Control

I. Definitions of Anorexia and Bulimia

II. Characteristics of Anorexia and Bulimia

III. Causes of Anorexia and Bulimia

IV. Steps to Solution

5. T
HE
W
ORLD OF
G
AMBLING

Betting Your Life Away

I. Definitions of Gambling

II. Characteristics of Gambling

III. Causes of Gambling

IV. Steps to Solution

6. T
HE
W
ORLD OF
O
VEREATING

Freedom from Food Fixation

I. Definitions of Overeating

II. Characteristics of Overeating

III. Causes of Overeating

IV. Steps to Solution

7. T
HE
W
ORLD OF
S
EXUAL
A
DDICTION

The Way Out of the Web

I. Definitions of Sexual Addiction

II. Characteristics of Sexual Addiction

III. Causes of Sexual Addiction

IV. Steps to Solution

P
ART
2: L
EAVING THE
W
ORLD OF
A
DDICTIONS

8. T
HE
P
OWERFUL
W
ORLD OF
P
RAYER
:

How to Pray When You Don’t Know What to Say

9. T
HE
V
ITAL
W
ORLD OF
C
RISIS
I
NTERVENTION
:

How to Confront…Because You Care

10. T
HE
H
EALING
W
ORLD OF
R
EHAB
:

How to Know the Ins and Outs

11. T
HE
12-
STEP
W
ORLD OF
R
ECOVERY
:

How to Walk Toward Freedom

12. T
HE
B
REAKTHROUGH
W
ORLD OF
B
RAIN
I
MAGING
:

How Seeing Is Believing!

13. T
HE
C
RIPPLING
W
ORLD OF
C
ODEPENDENCY
:

How Your Help Can Actually Hurt

14. T
HE
L
IFE
-C
HANGING
W
ORLD OF
S
ALVATION
:

How to Receive Spiritual Healing

E
PILOGUE
:
The Mountain Climber

N
OTES

S
ELECTED
B
IBLIOGRAPHY

Other Harvest House Books by June Hunt

About the Author

WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF ADDICTIONS