Wednesday, 29^th October, 2025

Bible Reading: Hebrews 12:1

Memory Verse:  You are a slave to whatever controls you. 2 Peter 2:19 (NLT)

Many people, without even realising it, turn to “comfort substitutes” that can become subtle forms of bondage. These may not seem destructive at first, but over time, they take root in the heart, replacing God as the source of peace, identity, and strength. Here are 10 common “subtle bondages” people run to for comfort besides drugs:

1. Food (Emotional Eating): Using food as a way to escape sadness, loneliness, or stress. Philippians 3:19 says “Their god is their stomach…”

2. Social Media & Screen Addiction: Constant scrolling or binge-watching to numb the mind or avoid real-life pain. Psalm 119:37 says, “Turn my eyes from worthless things…” 

3. Workaholism: Overworking to find identity, escape emptiness, or feel valuable. Ecclesiastes 2:11 says, “…all of it was meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” 

4. Toxic Relationships: Staying in harmful friendships or romances out of fear of being alone. Proverbs 13:20 says, “A companion of fools suffers harm.”

5. Pornography & Lust: Seeking comfort in sexual fantasy instead of intimacy with God or one’s spouse. Matthew 5:28 says, “…anyone who looks at a woman lustfully.  has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

6. Shopping & Materialism: Spending excessively to feel good, fill voids, or impress others. Luke 12:15 says, “Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

7. Gambling & Risky Thrills: Addiction to the adrenaline of betting, winning, or danger as a distraction. 1 Timothy 6:9 says, “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation…”

8. Control or Perfectionism: Trying to control everything or be perfect to avoid pain or criticism. Galatians 3:3 says, “Are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

9. People-Pleasing: Constantly seeking validation from others, fearing rejection. Galatians 1:10 says, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

10. Bitterness & Unforgiveness: Holding unto offence as a way to justify emotional pain, which becomes a prison. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it… no bitter root grows up…”

Challenge: What is the first thing I turn to when I’m stressed, hurt, or alone? Is it God, or a substitute? Anything that replaces God as your comfort can become a subtle idol even if it looks innocent.

Quote: Flee from all appearances of evil – 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Prophetic Decree: Receive spiritual intelligence to discern subtle satanic pit holes in your life, in Jesus name. 

Prayer Focus 

1. I receive grace to run to God in season and out of season; when it is comfortable and when it is not, in Jesus name. 

2. O Lord, deliver me from subtle addiction, in Jesus name. 

3. I break the yoke of social media addiction and pornography in my life, in Jesus name. 

4. I break the yoke of emotional eating and toxic relationships, in Jesus name. 

5. I break the yoke of gambling and materialism, in Jesus name. 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:  John 11