No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.
1 Corinthians 10:13
"I've been free from this area of bondage for a week, a month, a year, ten years, etc. but from time to time I am still tempted. When will I ever be free of the temptation to return to my addictions and or sins of the past?"
I'm sorry to say that the answer is most likely never, at least not on this side of eternity. When we get right spiritually and maintain our relationship with God, we will find ourselves freed from the obsession of the things that once held us in bondage, the temptations may become less frequent (probably will) and less severe in their pull on us, but temptations will come. You may walk free for quite some time, then out of nowhere it seems the thought comes that at one time would have led to an immediate reaction to engage in that old behavior, or at least begin the internal war that always eventually led to defeat.
The good news is that there is a way of escape! Walking in the spirit does not free us from ever being tempted. But it does set us free from the power of the temptations! God always provides a way of escape. The truth is that He always did. We just didn't know how to see it or where to turn before. Now we do. The answer lies in Him. When faced with temptation we can turn our eyes upon Jesus. We can turn our thoughts to gratitude and praise. We can pray for help and strength. And then we can let it go. Continue on and treat the temptation like an ignoring pest. We don't have to fight it. In fact we can't. But we don't have to dwell on it either. As long as we stay focused on our relationship with God, His love for us and His will, we will always be shown something else to do or think about besides what the enemy wants to use to enslave us.
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
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