Christ-Like

[CrimsonJoker]

Ya know I've been smoking for about 9 years now. I started because I was an idiot kid who saw daddy smoking, "I wanna be just like him" -lights cig, coughs profusely- yall know the usual tale. Now I dont blame my father for me starting smoking, that was my ignorant choice. it was also my choice to continue it for 9 years. But now part of me wants to quit, and yet a big part of me enjoys it. I'm finally living with someone who wants to help me quit. I asked her for help and her boyfriend for help. She said fine. See thing is, they are christian just like me. They say they are Christian, and yet she uses her words to rip my soul out. I mean if your christian, doesnt that mean Christ Like? WHY CANT PEOPLE ACT LIKE IT!!! I mean honestly people, I ask for help, and then I get snapped at which just makes me wanna smoke some more. -_- this ongoing vicious cycle is going to kill me. I asked for help from christians, so why do they gotta be a...jerks about it?

 

[UnitynLove]

When you are struggling with problems/troubles you need to get your eyes off of your weakness/habit and get your mind on God. The bible says: "Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh." What does that mean: Read the bible more, listen to good music, praising and worshipping God, less time worrying, less time trying to figure out your problems, less time struggling, less time being afraid that if you don't overcome this God will reject you and more time just Hanging on the vine. Guess what? God will give you the strength to overcome that weakness and that flaw. If you are struggling with something you don't need to put more effort in it you need to spend more time with God, you don't need to call up four friends ask them what to do you need to spend more time with God. - Joyce Meyer

 

[98cwitr]

^^^seriously I dont think copy and pasting the same thing in each of these threads is very constructive or personable...just saying Brother.

Crimson, I smoked for 13 years and have been cigarette free for over a month now...and I have only been a Christian for about 6 months now...and sometimes not a very good one.

There are two reasons why you may see these other people who are "suppose" to be supportive as being "jerks"

1. They are being jerks because they do not understand addiction...have never faced it, so they have little tolerance what they perceive as "wrong," "gross," or "vile." Remember what Paul saying in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 is referring to is sexual immorality in regards to the only sin that a person can commit to his body is the sin of sexual immorality and that all other sins are outside of the body. It is not the fact that you get drunk that you sin...it is your actions while you are drunk that causes you to sin, therefore committing other sins as a result (I had a lot of sexual issues when I got drunk, and a slanderous mouth to boot).

This leads me to my second point:
2. Your guilt and self-consciousness may be the cause of your grief. I quit for me...but had a lot of outward influences that helped me...like making friends with people that still accepted me, but didn't like me smoking and were genunily concerned. Some of these people were not even Christian, but I feel that God put them in my life to be a positive influence.

I hope I can be to you as well, Brother. I am still popping nicotine lozenges like candy (literally), but it is better for my health than to smoke, plus I don't feel self conscious at all about these and I am working on weening myself off of them as well (for the sake of my financial security )

Those who are unsupportive just do not understand...forgive them and find a good set of friends that can help you...as well as taking preventive measures (try not drinking when you have been quit for a few weeks...give it a few months before having a beer, or you might wanna try quiting drinking too, I was able to take the lozenges and still have a few beers when I went out with friends).