Earthen Vessels

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!

Fluffy · 02-16-2008, 08:06 PM

Fluffy · 02-16-2008, 11:23 PM

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

Psalms 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.

smellycat · 02-17-2008, 01:14 AM

i have more problems than smoking.very low on a big list.

Fluffy · 02-17-2008, 07:12 PM

It wasnt high on my priority list, either, when I made Jesus my Lord. But He eventually got around to it!

Bondman · 02-19-2008, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fluffy

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.

I kind of can't believe that you wrote there almost exactly what the Lord put into my mind I think it must have been yesterday morning, and I was considering doing a Message on it. My words were that we start as "dead lead" with God helping us become "shining gold"!

This smoking business that has so much of the world in its grip is a great example of how He can make us NEW - when we allow Him to help us to do something like quit cigarettes!

Well done Fluffy!! Praying for this thread to help others follow your path.

Faithwoman · 02-19-2008, 05:02 PM

I am here. Looking for that encouragment with my battle of the quitting.
I leave for a trip on Thurs AM.. my girlfriend to where I am going, gave it up on January 1st.. she said it is not welcomed there.

I have the patch.. all packed and ready to go.. along with my bible.

Here we gooooooooooooooooooooooo..

Faithwoman

Boanerges · 02-19-2008, 05:44 PM

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Fluffers as far as earthern vessels I am the proverbial cracked pot!

Boanerges · 02-19-2008, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faithwoman

I am here. Looking for that encouragment with my battle of the quitting.
I leave for a trip on Thurs AM.. my girlfriend to where I am going, gave it up on January 1st.. she said it is not welcomed there.

I have the patch.. all packed and ready to go.. along with my bible.

Here we gooooooooooooooooooooooo..

Faithwoman

My precious sister you can do all things thru Christ who strengthens you! Every time you feel that need for nicotine call out Help me Jesus, by faith receive that help and walk away from it!

Fluffy · 02-19-2008, 09:43 PM

Boanerges! I have heard that a cracked pot was designed that way so that the light of God will shine thru!!! So be proud to be a cracked pot!

Hey, Faithwoman! I'll be praying for you on your trip! Being in a non-smoking environment will be good. One thing that helped me was to remember that at one time, I was a non-smoker. Just have to remember what they did!

ha!

Hey, Bondman! Thank you, for the encouragement! Just goes to show that God is in the moving business, dont ya think? He moves here, moves there, always moving, and sometimes we get to see His hand!

Halleujah!

02-13-2008, 05:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Fluffy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,296 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 2	Earthen Vessels 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! __________________ Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway! http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

02-16-2008, 08:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Fluffy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,296 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 2	__________________ Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway! http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

02-16-2008, 11:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fluffy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,296 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 2	2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! Psalms 31:24 Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord. __________________ Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway! http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

02-17-2008, 07:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fluffy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,296 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 2	It wasnt high on my priority list, either, when I made Jesus my Lord. But He eventually got around to it! __________________ Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway! http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

02-19-2008, 09:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Fluffy Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 1,296 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 2	Boanerges! I have heard that a cracked pot was designed that way so that the light of God will shine thru!!! So be proud to be a cracked pot! Hey, Faithwoman! I'll be praying for you on your trip! Being in a non-smoking environment will be good. One thing that helped me was to remember that at one time, I was a non-smoker. Just have to remember what they did! ha! Hey, Bondman! Thank you, for the encouragement! Just goes to show that God is in the moving business, dont ya think? He moves here, moves there, always moving, and sometimes we get to see His hand! Halleujah! __________________ Be transparent before God, He sees right thru you, anyway! http://www.likepreciousfaith.org/testimony_val.htm Please pray for your local emergency responders, daily.

02-17-2008, 01:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
smellycat Former Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: uk Posts: 4,894 Rep Power: 0	i have more problems than smoking.very low on a big list.

02-19-2008, 05:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
Faithwoman Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: New York Posts: 326 Rep Power: 1	I am here. Looking for that encouragment with my battle of the quitting. I leave for a trip on Thurs AM.. my girlfriend to where I am going, gave it up on January 1st.. she said it is not welcomed there. I have the patch.. all packed and ready to go.. along with my bible. Here we gooooooooooooooooooooooo.. Faithwoman

02-19-2008, 05:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
Boanerges Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: St Rose LA Posts: 14,774 Blog Entries: 3 Rep Power: 16	Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Fluffers as far as earthern vessels I am the proverbial cracked pot!

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