I received Christ but I can't quit smoking

[mandii_ck]

I received Christ early last month.. One thing I knew I needed to do was quit smoking.. Through prayer, faith & the Spirit I was able to cut down from half a pack a day to less than 2 cigarette a day almost instantly.. So I knew God was helping me..

But lately I confess I've lost progress & I'm smoking again like I used to. Anyone who is or was a smoker, understands how difficult it is cause addiction is more than mental, its physical also.. but its more than physical & emotional, its HABIT also..

I feel bad, like I'm a disappointment to the Lord.. Would the Spirit leave me?

 

[salida]

No, the Spirit isn't going to leave you. Just keep having faith and keep trying-this is what counts. I admit-it also takes discipline. Pray that God will give you discipline and He will. After awhile you will think cigerettes are gross. A person that smokes for a long time-their lungs look barbiqued. If they stop, ones body repairs itself. Also, it might be a test to see if you trust God enough to get rid if your cravings again. Smokers have various experiences-some the cravings leaves and they never smoke again. Others the cravings go away in increments until its totally gone.

 

[Macx]

I had the habit from age 16 to age 24, started trying to kick it at the age you (OP)are now. . . tried several things and failed several. It is tough, it is really tough & you shouldn't be too hard on yourself while you are trying. I had the habit bad, smoked about a pack and a half of either Pall Mall or Kool non-filters per day (depending on if I wanted menthol or not) and additionally smoked about three cigars or the equivalent in pipe at the end of the day, inhaling. Now I haven't smoked, not even one drag since sundown on the 16th of Sept 1996 . . . can't say I haven't been tempted a time or too, but the last time I quit, I made it. I always remind myself I have all this time, I haven't smoked . . . all this time the addiction hasn't ruled me & one drag would start the clock over again. As more time goes by, it gets stronger, the ability to resist because I have this stack of years, each day a victory. It can be done, but it doesn't have to happen overnight.

Jesus wouldn't be disappointed unless you quit trying to quit. It is the condition of the heart, the desire to do His will that the Lord is interested in. He will be joyous with you when you do quit, but so long as you are trying.

BTW, I tried several different methods before finding the right one for me. What worked for me was a class . . . It was several classes before the class quit, we did a lot of things to break the little habits before the big quit. I'd be happy to talk more about the process.

You can win, you can beat nicotine!

 

[BobW188]

The Spirit won't leave you. God isn't so much concerned that you win - He'll take care of that in the long run - as that you keep fighting. you might take up Macx's offer to tell you more about what worked for him. Also, there are online resources like becomeanex. org and quitnet. Check your community for resources, too.

It's a hard addiction to beat. I haven't, yet; but I've come down from over two packs a day to under one. I've read from more than one source that it takes, on an average, eight failiures to finally succeed. Keep tryin', keep prayin', best wishes.

 

[christandisrael]

You are NEVER a disappointment to the Lord. If you are, then we all are. We all have our sins. But that doesn't make it good. The best way to remove our problems is to pray them out.

 

[bliz]

You are facing an addiction as well as a habit. It's hard to break, and for many people, it will take time.

God's love is not dependant upon your ability to stop smoking. I think you should continue to try - part of taking care of your body as the temple of the Holy Spirit - but take it one day at a time, leaning on Him.

 

[miss-a]

It's common for people to misunderstand the thing about the Spirit leaving, and then they pass it on like it's Gospel. Your heart is to quit smoking, and that blesses God. And it's not that you can't quit, you just haven't yet. You will. So definitely tell yourself that, because it's the truth. Don't lie to yourself, even though it's unintentional, by continually telling yourself you can't. The truth is you can do all things in Christ, and you will. Get lots of people praying for you. There are times when I have called multiple prayer lines weekly to be sure I was never without prayer. Addictions are tough. Much prayer is needed. But Jesus is tougher, so you will win, or rather, He'll win it for you. Just do your part and He'll do his. Avoid hanging out with smokers as much as possible until you no longer struggle with this. Feel free to use the patch or gum, if needed. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you can't. So pray about if those are feasible routes for you. And breath in Jesus every chance you get. Jot key scriptures down on cards and carry them with you. Sometimes I leave them out on my desk. So if a lie flies by and tries to stick to me, I've got the truth right at hand. And speak it aloud, even if it's a whisper under your breath, at times of temptation. Hear are a few scriptures that will help in this battle.. Pray them, insert your name into them, talk to Jesus about them. They are His promises to you. And notice, dear one, there's not a single one that says you can't. That's because you can, and you will!!!:
Addiction

"Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive form the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace."
Rom 6:11-14
"Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."
James 5:16
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery."
Galatians 5:1
"But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."
Galatians 5:16-17
"Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."
Galatians 5:24-25
"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death."
Romans 8:2
"For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God. However you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you."
Romans 8:5-9
"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."
Colossians 3:1-3
"Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever."
1 John 2:15-17
"For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world- our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."
1 John 5:4-5
"You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world."
1 John 4:4
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Phillipians 4:6-7
"Finally, bretheren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute , if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
Phillipians 4:8-9
"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."
Phillipians 4:13
"Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."
James 4:7


Blessings on you, A

 

[Chris_G]

I feel for you, and I know what it's like to be addicted to something. The problem with us is that sometimes we try to do things with our own strengths and efforts, in the flesh. But we have the beautiful Holy Spirit, and one of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. At this point, I would strongly suggest that you confess your addiction to cigarrettes to God, confess and be honest about everything that causes you to smoke or why you like it. Then ask God for his grace to deliver you from that addiction, because only He can do that. Everytime you get the urge to smoke, get on your knees or pray where ever you are, and confess what is happening to you, and ask to be delivered from it. God bless you.

 

[spidergains]

I know the hell and torment of trying (and failing) to quit smoking. There are a number of addictions being satisfied by your habit (physical, mental & emotional). Understanding this and dealing with this "3-headed monster" will enable you to quit smoking.

The Physical Addiction: Cigarettes contain nicotine, which creates a mild feeling of euphoria when inhaled. Withdrawal from this drug will cause people a variety of discomforts (headaches, irritability, anxiety, anguish, insomnia, etc.).

There are a number of chemical substitutes that can reduce or eliminate most of the uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms from nicotine. Using one of these will greatly decrease your chances of relapsing. The nicotine patch is probably the most effective and hassle-free method of weaning oneself from nicotine.

The Mental Addiction: Whether you realize it or not, your mind has conditioned your body to provide you with a cigarette through association with various events in your day-to-day life. You might be familiar with the good morning smoke, the morning coffee smoke, the after meal smoke, the leaving the house smoke, the getting into the car smoke, the bus stop smoke, the morning break smoke, or the bedtime smoke. There are many others.

Even if you are successful in weaning yourself off nicotine, your mind will still prompt your body to light up out of habit. To deal with this, people will often hold and chew pencils or stuff their faces with food when the urge strikes. If you go the food route, I recommend carrying around a bag of carrots or some other low-cal veggie in your purse. Nobody ever got fat eating carrots. The mental addiction will subside over time, though every once in a while, your mind will prompt you to light up.

The Emotional Addiction: You may have noticed that people will reach for a cigarette when they are angered, upset, or stressed out. This is because nicotine has a mellowing effect on people's nerves. Many people have relapsed after quitting smoking when some event in their lives "sets them off."

It is very important to have a substitute routine for dealing with these emotional triggers. It could be a long walk, screaming into a pillow, working out or calling a friend. It can also be helpful to remind yourself the pain and misery quitting smoking has caused you and that it is something that you never want to go through again.

I smoked for 13 years and became a chain smoker. I used nicotine gum to help me quit and haven't had a cigarette since the summer of 1994.

 

[coolchicka]

Just trust in the Lord to help you quit. I used to smoke too. And then even though my body isn't craving it anymore I still get the temptation sometimes to smoke just one it gets worst when im mad.

 

[simonpeter]

I received Christ early last month.. One thing I knew I needed to do was quit smoking.. Through prayer, faith & the Spirit I was able to cut down from half a pack a day to less than 2 cigarette a day almost instantly.. So I knew God was helping me..

But lately I confess I've lost progress & I'm smoking again like I used to. Anyone who is or was a smoker, understands how difficult it is cause addiction is more than mental, its physical also.. but its more than physical & emotional, its HABIT also..

I feel bad, like I'm a disappointment to the Lord.. Would the Spirit leave me?

I used to smoke, but not anymore. How did I stop it? I didn't even try. I continued smoking, but I also continued studying the bible, listening to sermons etc. Then the habit just dropped away, if you know what I mean. It's like it never existed.

So what I am saying is: it's better not to focus too much on smoking or any other habit. They'll drop away when the time is right; we simply have to ignore them and continue with our activities.

 

[kenblaster5000]

Thank God for deliverance and praise Him. Sooner or later, He may speak to you and assure you that the addiction is not there, that the anointing breaks the yoke. Be blessed.

 

[BobW188]

God gives some people, like coolchicka, simonpeter and kenblaster the ability to just quit cold. Others have to struggle. You've gotten a lot of good advice here, now the idea is to find out what works for you. In Alcoholics Anonymous, we say "Take what's best, leave the rest."

I'll throw out to you that AA - and things like this thread - are proof that you don't have to rely just on prayer and willpower. God puts helping people in your path. He also knows what you're fighting better than you do. People like you and I, who can't make just quitting work, are on this road for a reason. There are things God wants us to learn that He knows we can learn no other way.

One final suggestion. Slip a piece of paper in the cellophane wrapper of your cigarette pack and, every time you light up, write down the time, place and reason. (There's a form for this available on becomeanex, which I use, but blank paper is fine.) Not only does this help you find out when and why you smoke, the very acts of taking out and unfolding the paper, reaching for your pen and doing the writing break that automatic cycle of just reaching for a smoke and lighting it.

Give it a try; and don't be afraid to reach out to others - friends, doctors, classes, online sites, community resources - for help. Also, don't let anybody put you on a guilt trip if you fail now and then. We all do, more often than we like to admit and at more things than we like to admit. By turning to God, you've already won the most important victory of your life. Others will come in His time and, for all we know here, the one over smoking may come easily and soon!

 

[sbbqb7n16]

I don't feel that quitting smoking is as much of a spiritual problem as a behavior modification problem. The spiritual problem is that you feel the Spirit will leave you if you keep smoking. That's just not true

Since you are trying to change your behavior yourself, I would suggest getting the book Amazon.com: Self-Directed Behavior (9780495093244): David L. Watson, Roland G. Tharp: Books

If you've seen some of my other posts, you know I love this book

There are several tips on what to do to help overcome problem behaviors. The more techniques you use, the higher the probability you will succeed.

The main formula is to start small, gradually improve, and reward any improvement.

Yes, it's that simple in concept, but tougher to execute. You're been rewarding the smoking behavior for a long time, and you'll have to start relearning how to reward replacement behaviors.

Things that could help:
-Start tracking how many cigarettes you smoke a day
-Track how you felt before and after you smoked (do you only smoke because you're stressed? sad? happy? etc.)
-Use a calendar to track how many days you can meet your non smoking goals
-Tell your friends and family that you are trying to quit and get their support
-Don't try and quit fully right away. Try to gradually limit the total cigarettes smoked a day - eventually down to 0.
-Find a healthy replacement activity for smoking and reward yourself every time you do that activity instead of smoking (go for a walk, drink a glass of water, chew a piece of gum, talk to a friend, etc.)

Expect that at some point you will make mistakes, but don't focus on that. Focus on improving the process of quitting, and the goal will take care of itself.

 

[kenblaster5000]

God gives some people, like coolchicka, simonpeter and kenblaster the ability to just quit cold. Others have to struggle. You've gotten a lot of good advice here, now the idea is to find out what works for you. In Alcoholics Anonymous, we say "Take what's best, leave the rest."

I'll throw out to you that AA - and things like this thread - are proof that you don't have to rely just on prayer and willpower. God puts helping people in your path. He also knows what you're fighting better than you do. People like you and I, who can't make just quitting work, are on this road for a reason. There are things God wants us to learn that He knows we can learn no other way.

One final suggestion. Slip a piece of paper in the cellophane wrapper of your cigarette pack and, every time you light up, write down the time, place and reason. (There's a form for this available on becomeanex, which I use, but blank paper is fine.) Not only does this help you find out when and why you smoke, the very acts of taking out and unfolding the paper, reaching for your pen and doing the writing break that automatic cycle of just reaching for a smoke and lighting it.

Give it a try; and don't be afraid to reach out to others - friends, doctors, classes, online sites, community resources - for help. Also, don't let anybody put you on a guilt trip if you fail now and then. We all do, more often than we like to admit and at more things than we like to admit. By turning to God, you've already won the most important victory of your life. Others will come in His time and, for all we know here, the one over smoking may come easily and soon!

Oh no, I struggled for years, trying patches, gums, and marlboro snus. It was God giving me revelation that helped me to stop for good. I tried everything and spent alot of money. I told God that I give up trying and asked him, praised him, and thanked him for deliverance. It was a time later the seed I planted started to sprout that I was able to get off of them. That and alot of walks and yelling at neighbors I am sorry to say.

 

[Macx]

One final suggestion. Slip a piece of paper in the cellophane wrapper of your cigarette pack and, every time you light up, write down the time, place and reason. (There's a form for this available on becomeanex, which I use, but blank paper is fine.) Not only does this help you find out when and why you smoke, the very acts of taking out and unfolding the paper, reaching for your pen and doing the writing break that automatic cycle of just reaching for a smoke and lighting it.

That is solid advice. On that theme, during the quit smoking class that worked for me, there was a point were we were to get a jar, like a good sized pickle jar and put a few inches of water in it. Thereafter, if we smoked . . the ashes, matches, leftovers, all had to go in the jar. Seeing it was plenty ugly, smelling it after a week was . . . . persuasive. No jar, no smoking. It was just one part of a pretty awesome program.

I'll also echo - doesn't matter how you quit it only matters that you keep trying till ya make it.

 

[wonderwaleye]

I received Christ early last month.. One thing I knew I needed to do was quit smoking.. Through prayer, faith & the Spirit I was able to cut down from half a pack a day to less than 2 cigarette a day almost instantly.. So I knew God was helping me..

But lately I confess I've lost progress & I'm smoking again like I used to. Anyone who is or was a smoker, understands how difficult it is cause addiction is more than mental, its physical also.. but its more than physical & emotional, its HABIT also..

I feel bad, like I'm a disappointment to the Lord.. Would the Spirit leave me?

I have smoked for many years and could not quite. I was introduced to a product called " NICK AND JOHNNY " from Sweden ( do a search on the web with this name and you shall see how to get it ). Just as soon as I received this I put my cigs and ash trays away. Would you believe I was able to quit smoking with NO PAIN. I ordered like 20 containers and never used but a half of one. In 12 days I was completely free of cigs and the NICK and JOHNNY. Should you decide to get this send me a message and I will tell you how I used this. WONDERFUL STUFF!

steven

 

[childofGod31]

I received Christ early last month.. One thing I knew I needed to do was quit smoking.. Through prayer, faith & the Spirit I was able to cut down from half a pack a day to less than 2 cigarette a day almost instantly.. So I knew God was helping me..

But lately I confess I've lost progress & I'm smoking again like I used to. Anyone who is or was a smoker, understands how difficult it is cause addiction is more than mental, its physical also.. but its more than physical & emotional, its HABIT also..

I feel bad, like I'm a disappointment to the Lord.. Would the Spirit leave me?

No. God is more concerned about your heart.

you are probably trying to do it by your own power (I know it's difficult to know when we do and when we do not)

But try to focus on your relationship with God. Smoking is one of your least problems. Don't let that guilt stop you from coming to God and being transformed. He forgives. You are not a disappointment, He knows you are just a baby and babies fall. They have to get up, for that's how they learn to walk.

But mainly focus on being transformed in your heart. Focus on seeking God's presence everyday and putting Him above all and surrendering your will to His. And later the rest will be added to you.

 

[Christsdaughter]

Wow! I see that you have received some great advice on this subject! I LOVE what Bob said about writing down the time, reason, etc everytime you crave it! Not only could that help break the habit, but it forces you to think about why you are wanting to light up and it adds so much work that if you can discipline yourself to go through that process, you may get tired of it altogether, if you know what I mean! It then becomes too much work to get that cigarrette. Also, when you think about the reason that you want to light up, you can see that it is a LIE and get out that Sword of the Spirit (Word of God) to replace the lie with the Truth! I don't need a cigarrette to calm down, I can just call on God because He is SO MUCH MORE POWERFUL! The same God who controls nature, world events, calmed the sea, etc, can and WILL help you kick the habit IF you TRUST Him and keep obeying Him! Some people are able to get victory quickly, while others struggle with it for awhile first, just like David and his adultries. Just remember where the power, self-control, peace, etc come from! The Father in heaven!! God Bless!!

 

[faatimahlove]

Plainly put, I was you five days ago for 7 years. I am 20 years old and have been smoking for about 7 years or so and never thought I could quit. I have received and received the Lord, and each time I really tried to make that commitment to trust the Lord... it was always the smoking that brought me back down. So I googled "How to Quit Smoking God's Way" and I read it, it was prety convincing the stuff they wrote. They also gave me this awesome prayer I prayed for the Lord to take away my addiction, habit, and desire, and thanked him for delivering me from Satan's bondage. I had to really mean, but more so I wanted more than ever because I felt like the smoking was causing a rift between me actually having a real relationship with Christ. So i prayed and meant it, 5 days later no cravings urges.. and I'm free from the bondage, I've been delivered from the addiciton, habit, and the desire and I am truely free, Thank Jesus. Try it!!!