Christian Forum Site - View Single Post

Fluffy · 02-13-2008, 05:33 PM

Trying to quit smoking? Has the Holy Spirit convicted you you need to stop? This thread is started just for you! A place to come to. To get encouraged and empowered.
I called it Earthen Vessels, because that is what we are until God changes us to be the gold and silver He wants us to be. AND for this verse that I found this morning:
2 Corinthians 4:7 "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."
This is a debate free place. If God has not convicted you to quit, please feel free to encourage those He has.

A little about me:
I started smoking about 15 years ago in rebellion against my husband. (long story, not relevant to this subject) Not realizing that he had just kicked the habit right before we met! So my smoking encouraged him to pick it back up again. The shock factor gone, I was still hooked. And I enjoyed it. I liked it!
Later, about a year after I made Jesus Lord over my life, the Holy Spirit started to work on me to quit.
It might be an exaggeration, but I think it took about 150 tries before I had success! It was a hard battle. I'd go maybe half an hour and then fall apart for a cigarette! Couldnt even go one day without! I remember one time, flopping on the bed, bursting into tears because I had failed yet again. I cried out to Jesus "why cant I quit?" Very clearly, I heard in a voice that was not my own "You dont trust Me enough." Very quiet, not angry, not condescending, just very matter of fact. And it was true. So I tried again, and again, and again. Tried the medication, no dice there. The gum did nothing but rot my teeth out. Tapering off, cold turkey, you name it, I probably tried it.
Then one night, my pastor and a friend prayed over me and it seemed to break something in the spirit. It took awhile after that, and more tries and more tries, but the periods of time when I could go without were longer and longer. I used the patch (it only took the edge off, didnt take any of the cravings away) and eventually, with alot of prayer and hanging onto Jesus, the habit was kicked! It has now been about 4 years smoke free.
So now, I want to encourage those who are quitting. It takes time to make a habit, it takes even more time to break a habit.
You can do it! Prayer, the Word, the Holy Spirit, loving support from your friends and family, all these will help you.
By the way, my husband still smokes, as does all my children and their spouses, so I am surrounded by cigarettes! And I still once in a great while think one would be good, but I can resist. Otherwise, it doesnt bother me.
I resist by thinking how it would let God down after all the work He put in to me to help me quit!