paidforinfull
Dec 18th 2008, 04:08 AM
If I may, I'd like to witness to you about the battle God helped me to fight (and win) against my nicotine addiction.
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I started smoking at the very young age of 14 or 15 (can't remember exactly). I got hooked almost as soon as I took my first puff - guess I have a very addictive personality - praise God I am allergic to alcohol, or I would have ended up being an alcoholic for sure.
Some people get only physically addicted to chemical substances, and apparently they find it much easier to overcome their addictions. Others become physically and emotionally addicted, and I happened to be one of these. This is what a nurse told me, anyway.
I would smoke whatever cigarettes or tobacco I could lay my hands on - when I had no more pocket money for cigs, I would steal some of my Dad's pipe tobacco and make my own smokes by rolling it in newspaper. Rediculous, hey?
I smoked between 20-30 very strong cigarettes daily for years, and then I became a Christian. Wish I could tell you that I stopped smoking immediately, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. It took another 7 years before that happened. I went for counseling, prayer, deliverance; I even used patches - all to no avail. I'd get down to 3 cigarettes a day (took a few puffs, killed it and took a few some hours later). The most I could wait between smokes were like 3 hours. I felt pathetic. (My addiction was so strong that I decided I wouldn't get married to my husband if he objected to my smoking - fortunately he is a wise man).
Eventually I quit trying to quit and decided to be honest with God about the whole situation. I told Him that I really really enjoyed smoking; that I didn't want to quit, but that I realised it was unhealthy and damaging to my Christian witness, and that I trusted Him to help me at the right time. I asked God to make me want to give up. Maybe that was a cop-out, but hey, I'm not perfect.
I had other huge issues in my life as well, and looking back I realise now that smoking was waaayyyy down the list of what God wanted to heal and deliver me from. (Note: as far as drugs and alcohol are concerned, I feel God would want to deal with these asap because of the affects they have on a person.)
By this time I have been smoking for almost 20 years.
Then, one morning seven years later I woke up. It was a day like any other. I made myself a cup of coffee, and went out onto the verandah to enjoy my first morning smoke. As I was sitting there, God told me that I was having my very last cigarette. He didn't speak to me in an audible voice; it was a thought which entered my mind, but I knew it was God talking to me.
What did I do? I decided to get back into bed to have a sleep in; hoping that this thought would disappear after I woke up. Well, it didn't. I woke up later being more convinced than ever that God had spoken to me. I decided to wait until the evening, and to see if I could really go without a smoke for the whole day. I knew that if I could do it for a day, God was with me and helping me.
The hours dragggged by. It was hell, but I did it! That night I told my husband what had happened. He didn't think much of it (knowing how weak I was where smoking was concerned).
The next day I sat down and wrote a promise to God - I promised Him that I would never ever have another smoke in my whole life - not even one puff. I signed the promise.
The next three days are still a blurr to me. Fortunately, God made me strong. I know God helped me, for I wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise. Someone once told me that God does one of two things in a desperate situation - He either changes the situation, or He gives us the strength to overcome. In my case, He gave me strength. Praise God.
The next three weeks were still hell, and the first three months were hell, but then it started to get better. I would still dream I was smoking for years afterwards, and would be understandably relieved to wake up and realise it was just a dream, but hey! - it's been seven years now since I had my last cigarette - and I have never ever had even one puff again!!!
All things are possible with God!
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I started smoking at the very young age of 14 or 15 (can't remember exactly). I got hooked almost as soon as I took my first puff - guess I have a very addictive personality - praise God I am allergic to alcohol, or I would have ended up being an alcoholic for sure.
Some people get only physically addicted to chemical substances, and apparently they find it much easier to overcome their addictions. Others become physically and emotionally addicted, and I happened to be one of these. This is what a nurse told me, anyway.
I would smoke whatever cigarettes or tobacco I could lay my hands on - when I had no more pocket money for cigs, I would steal some of my Dad's pipe tobacco and make my own smokes by rolling it in newspaper. Rediculous, hey?
I smoked between 20-30 very strong cigarettes daily for years, and then I became a Christian. Wish I could tell you that I stopped smoking immediately, but unfortunately that wasn't the case. It took another 7 years before that happened. I went for counseling, prayer, deliverance; I even used patches - all to no avail. I'd get down to 3 cigarettes a day (took a few puffs, killed it and took a few some hours later). The most I could wait between smokes were like 3 hours. I felt pathetic. (My addiction was so strong that I decided I wouldn't get married to my husband if he objected to my smoking - fortunately he is a wise man).
Eventually I quit trying to quit and decided to be honest with God about the whole situation. I told Him that I really really enjoyed smoking; that I didn't want to quit, but that I realised it was unhealthy and damaging to my Christian witness, and that I trusted Him to help me at the right time. I asked God to make me want to give up. Maybe that was a cop-out, but hey, I'm not perfect.
I had other huge issues in my life as well, and looking back I realise now that smoking was waaayyyy down the list of what God wanted to heal and deliver me from. (Note: as far as drugs and alcohol are concerned, I feel God would want to deal with these asap because of the affects they have on a person.)
By this time I have been smoking for almost 20 years.
Then, one morning seven years later I woke up. It was a day like any other. I made myself a cup of coffee, and went out onto the verandah to enjoy my first morning smoke. As I was sitting there, God told me that I was having my very last cigarette. He didn't speak to me in an audible voice; it was a thought which entered my mind, but I knew it was God talking to me.
What did I do? I decided to get back into bed to have a sleep in; hoping that this thought would disappear after I woke up. Well, it didn't. I woke up later being more convinced than ever that God had spoken to me. I decided to wait until the evening, and to see if I could really go without a smoke for the whole day. I knew that if I could do it for a day, God was with me and helping me.
The hours dragggged by. It was hell, but I did it! That night I told my husband what had happened. He didn't think much of it (knowing how weak I was where smoking was concerned).
The next day I sat down and wrote a promise to God - I promised Him that I would never ever have another smoke in my whole life - not even one puff. I signed the promise.
The next three days are still a blurr to me. Fortunately, God made me strong. I know God helped me, for I wouldn't have been able to do it otherwise. Someone once told me that God does one of two things in a desperate situation - He either changes the situation, or He gives us the strength to overcome. In my case, He gave me strength. Praise God.
The next three weeks were still hell, and the first three months were hell, but then it started to get better. I would still dream I was smoking for years afterwards, and would be understandably relieved to wake up and realise it was just a dream, but hey! - it's been seven years now since I had my last cigarette - and I have never ever had even one puff again!!!
All things are possible with God!