Cures for the 7 Deadly Sins

I have at various times struggled with each of the 7 deadly sins, as I'm sure most have.  And here are some practical possible cures that helped me that you can try if you want. :)

1. Greed.  The best cure for greed is giving things away.  When you buy a shirt, donate a shirt.  As many clothes as you buy, donate that many to Goodwill or give them to a friend etc.  Periodically get rid of anything that you have not used in the last month or so to someone else who might really need it.  You can give away money.  My newest idea is to give a $20 to a random stranger whenever you are feeling the most greedy. 

2. Envy.  The best cure for envy is to genuinely be happy for other people and to have contentment.  If you really love others, you will not care if they have better things than you.  It won't bother you.  And if you are truly content, you will not be envious that they have what you do not.  Every day say about your car, "I love my car.  It couldn't be better!" etc.  Pastor Kenton at Mariners Church taught us to do that.  Every Thanksgiving he would go through everything we have and tell us to say about it that we love it and it couldn't be better.  Try doing that, out loud.  Also try writing a list often of all the things you are thankful for.  That will keep you from being jealous of what other people have. 

 3. Wrath.  When you feel wrathful or angry with someone, leave the room and go sit by yourself in another room.  Make yourself take a time out. :)  Cool off before you say anything.  Take a nap if you are tired, as that can make anger much worse.  Eat if you are hungry.  Call a friend to help calm you down etc.  Try writing in a journal.  Go for a fast walk around the block to get the energy out of your system that anger initiates.  There are lots of great cures for anger.  Take a hot bath.  Listen to some happy music.  Pray.  Watch a sermon.  I like Joyce Meyer a lot but everyone has their preferred teacher to listen to.  Bake some cookies.  Do whatever you can to get your mind off of your anger.  Don't stuff it, but try to do other things so you don't let your thoughts get irrational, as they tend to when we all get angry. 

4. Sloth.  A great cure for sloth is to stay busy.  Don't let yourself sleep excessively, as in like 14 hours a day.  Find a reason to get out of bed every morning. Get a hobby like making jewelry or gardening or baking cookies etc. Go for walks every day around the neighborhood, prayer walks if you want.  Don't just sit and watch TV all day.  Make something for other people, like crocheting blankets or baking cookies etc.  Read books to stimulate your mind.  Try dancing in your living room to get your blood moving, if the weather is to bad to go outside.  etc.  If you don't have a job, volunteer to tutor some children etc.  There are many cures for sloth really. 

5.  Gluttony.  By far the biggest cure for gluttony is fasting.  Try fasting for 24 hours and see how much it breaks the power of food over you and the thinking that you have to eat or you will die.  You won't die.  The body can go a very, very long time without food.  Fasting teaches you to say no to your stomach, which is very important.  I have fasted for 24 hour periods about 20 times in my life I think.  It has helped a lot for me to not let food, or my stomach, be my master.  Our stomach can be like an unruly two year old.  The more we give into it, the more spoiled it gets.  You have to learn to say no to yourself and your own hunger. 

 6. Lust.  The biggest cure for lust is learning to control your thoughts.  If you have almost no ability to control your thoughts, don't let your mind be idle.  Constantly listen to worship music or listen to sermons.  If you struggle with looking at porn, and both men and women can, put a "Net Nanny" blocking system on your computer so that bad sites are not accessible.  Block any channels on your TV that are bad etc.  And don't hang out with anyone else who struggles with lust a lot.  They will only pull you down. 

 7. Pride.  Whatever you are doing that makes you prideful, take a break from it.  If working out at the gym and trying to achieve the perfect body makes you prideful, take a week break from working out.  If making lots of money makes you prideful, take a week vacation from work etc.  If your hair makes you prideful, consider dying it.  When I was in college I had really cool highlights and I would straighten my hair every day.  My hair looked good.  But then I realized it was making me prideful, so I cut it shorter and dyed it brown.  It's nice to look good, but not if it makes you get a big head.  If your clothes make you prideful, try wearing less attractive clothes for a week etc.  There are tons of things that can make us prideful.  Ask God what it is that would help you the most.

God bless!