Smoking

[JohnnieGuy]

Hey guys, I just wanted to know what some of your opinions are. I smoke about 10-15 cigs a day. I've been convicted how it can be a sin in some ways, and I want to be obedient to God, but I don't want to or can't quit. I know that's probably the addiciton talking. For instance if I had never smoked I probably would never start. I have been praying that God will take away the desire to do it, but at the same time I feel like a hypocrite. I know I can't quit on my own, at least I don't want to quit on my own. I want Him to take it from me or help me out with it.

Any suggestions?

[Gregg]

Pray before you put one in your mouth. Everytime you get the urge, pray to the Father to give you the strength to not fall. Get an accountability partner that you can call after you pray and talk a little bit about what just happened.

You cannot quit for good without his help.

Your questioning whether or not you want to quit is a spiritual battle that does not feel like a spiritual battle. If will be very interesting to see what happens with your faith and walk as you and the Father take on this idol in your life.

God bless you and yours.

[turtledove]

Keep praying. It is basically a struggle and the longer you have smoked the harder the challenge.

I reached the end of my smoking (after about twelve years of it) over forty years ago after many failed attempts. The difference the last time was that I turned it completely over to the Lord and He led me to healthy things to fill that urge. For me it was a matter of getting very active in various outdoor activities. I learned to ski. As I became more and more involved in these things and so did my family..(especially hiking) I knew that if I ever went back to smoking what I was doing would be impossible or seriously curtailed.

And when I smoked (mainly in the 1950's and 60's) many people smoked...it was socially acceptable (even popular, as you will see on movies and TV programs which depict that era.) and not clearly understood as the serious health risk it is now even though it surely was.

After I quit (and even before) over the years I watched some loved ones die long and difficult deaths which were directly or indirectly the result of years of smoking. It ain't pretty and you don't want to end up there. I am older now and can't do all of the active athletic things I once did..but it feels so good just to breath in and out that wonderful air and not gag and cough. We need to realize that the good care of our bodies is a Godly responsibility as well as making just good common sense. Basically it is God's strength and grace which is given. In Christ you can do it!

Because:

God does set us free! For some it is one way and for others it is different. But commitment to quitting needs to begin and continue no matter how difficult or how tempting to give in it may be. Several on this section have shared various ways in which they were helped..You might want to read through some old threads here. They give God the glory and found help in prayer and worship, in Christian fellowship, and their exploration and application of scripture.

my prayers for you to stop and keep consistantly smoke free. :pray: There is so much more..to living life to the fullest..ahead..

May God be praised! :amen:

[JohnnieGuy]

Ya but I don't even want to quit. I enjoy it. I have been praying for God to take the desire away if HE wants me to quit and they are starting to lose their savour.

[RollTide21]

Ya but I don't even want to quit. I enjoy it. I have been praying for God to take the desire away if HE wants me to quit and they are starting to lose their savour.I hope that I am not giving bad advice here, but...

Are you truly convicted about your smoking right now? From your posts on here there are some pretty big Faith issues that you and the Lord are sorting out, right now. He'll deal with the smoking when it's time to deal with the smoking.

Over the last 2 and 1/2 months, I've had the most profound growth in Faith and closeness to Christ than I have ever had in my life. And I dipped snuff the entire time. I've just recently stopped in the last few days, but it only happened when the Lord was ready to cleanse me of that.

He's not necessarily looking to try to purge you of everything at once.

[ScopeofLife]

Most people who quit have a reason to quit. I saw some videos of women who quit smoking and shared their story to help others and received a $25 Amazon gift card which is nice: http://www.expotv.com/smoking/r153
Many of the women quit for children or for a loved one in their lives. You have to have a good reason and decide you are ready!

[Ryan R]

God won't take it away. Your problem is that you don't want to quit.

We're supposed to be dead to the things of this world. If you die to smoking it puts it into context. "I need a cigarette! Oh, I'm supposed to be dead to the things of this world. Dead men don't crave. Jesus is coming soon! Who cares about a cigarette, I've gotta warn people!"

At least that's how it works for me.

Once you've died to it you can pray for God to deliver you from temptation surrounding it, but if it's a sin you have to die to it. God gives us the choice to sin or not.

That's the other thing that helps me. I've done so much that I count as a lost for Christ. When I'm tempted I try to jump on the opportunity to joyfully give something up, and demonstrate my appreciation by offering it up to Him.

[Gregg]

Ya but I don't even want to quit. I enjoy it. I have been praying for God to take the desire away if HE wants me to quit and they are starting to lose their savour.

All addicts say I do not want to quit, then when they do it is too late.

The truth is that you are afraid to live without your addiction, satan whispers that it will be too hard. But what a testimony you will have when you guit to glorify God. Next time you want one talk to your Father and see what is really going on.

God bless you and yours.

[kingsdaughter]

I remember a while back, there was a sister on this board who gave a POWERFUL testimony of how she quit smoking and she was a smoker alot longer than you. Her testimony was funny and heart warming, many other board members benefited from it, let me see if I can find it for ya... uno momento...