No man is free who is not master of himself” Epictetus
Scripture clearly calls us to freedom. Galatians 5:1 states “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, so stand fast and do no submit again to the yoke of slavery”. Our lives can be controlled by money, power, social position, religiosity, food, alcohol, nicotine, and even love for another person. Addictions come in many packages, but all lead to imprisonment. Joshua 24:15 tells us “Choose for yourselves this day who you will serve.”
With God in us and with us, we do have the power to fight against and eventually win over any habit that limits and diminishes us. Self-discipline is the key. Saying no to ourselves may be hard but Hebrews 12:11 tells us “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness”.