New To Forums, Just Quit

[ReverendRock]

Hi All, I am new to the forums and actually found this site by doing a google search for "christian quit smoking". I have put away a half pack of smokes this morning and have prayed for Jesus to take away my habit once and for all. I had recently quick using the drug Chantix (Champix in Canada) but was one of those unfortunate few who experienced serious nueropsychotic side effects that cost me my pastorate and temporarily, my credentials. I am here to both get and lend support for anyone quitting cold turkey and relying on prayer and faith in Christ to get them through this difficult task. I am 47 years old and have smoked most of my adult life, including all the way through seminary and through two years of my first associate pastorate. I am a second career pastor who went to seminary at age 40. Enough is enough, I am done with smoking and with the power of Christ this demon will be brought down and disposed of once and for all, no prescriptions, no nicotine patches, no gum, just prayer and faith. Please pray for me if you're of a mind to and feel free to share your experiences with this in this thread. Thanks & God Bless.

 

[Evie1980]

Hey ReverendRock,
Welcome and congratulations on your quit! I too joined the forums after googling Christian Quit Smoking. I have been successfully quit for over 3 years and I must say that this was the place I went to for advice and help. I will be praying for you and, as I know your struggle, if there is anything I can do to help let me know. You can PM me or add to this thread. Please keep us up to date with everything so we can specifically pray for your needs at the time. Remember there is no condemnation in Christ. We are here to help you not judge you. As a Christian who has smoked I know just how hard it is to let go but know that God wants you to let go and we all want you to let go of smoking.

Blessings and prayers!

 

[ReverendRock]

Thanks for the reply and of course prayer much appreciated! Day two going well, I can do nothing of my own power but in God all things are possible. Praise Jesus!. Amen.

 

[J0sh8830]

Hey reverendrock!

I am also new to this forum, but I joined for other reasons. But this quit smoking forum is, a great place for support. I'm sorry to hear about the Chantix ordeal, Its a dangerous drug to quit smoking, but no one knew better when it was released. And they still prescribe it...amazing!!! I'm coming out of the second time quitting in the last 9 years. (smoked since I was 17) and the first time I used nicotine replacement, they worked well, but are not for everyone. This time (12 days smoke free as of today) I have bee going cold turkey, with just prayer and support from fellow Christians in this forum. Good luck, and you know you can do it! Like Evie1980 said let us know what is bugging you specifically, so we can pray in detail. God doesnt condemn us for smoking, but he wants us healthy and alive more than anything. And wants us to take care of ourselves. So His strength is yours!!!

 

[Evie1980]

Glad that the day went well for you! Keep up the strength in Christ and remember all things are possible through Him who gives us strength!

 

[ReverendRock]

Hey day three and going strong. Had a bit of a crazy withdrawal period last night, oddly, during Sunday Night Football but that could have been the result of a poorly played game, at least in the second half. Feeling much better today, slept well, ate well, going to doctor for unrelated issue this afternoon. Please pray that this continues to go well. The last time I quit cold turkey was twenty years ago so by God's grace and the power of our Lord this time will be successful. That time I stayed quit for 5 years but started again because of a romantic breakup... dumb eh?
Thanks again for prayers... God Bless!

 

[Evie1980]

Woo hoo! Glad you made it 3 days. Hump day as they say. Make it here you can make it through the end. Awesome that you are sleeping well and eating well. A little bit of exercise is supposed to be good too. Sorry about the footie game. Not a big fan myself but I know what it is like to have triggers make you suddenly feel desperate. Well done for getting through it!

 

[ReverendRock]

thanks Evie1980 for keeping up with this, day five at this point, all household pets still alive, potted plants unbroken, wife has been distant for obvious reasons and three teenage boys have been very obediant. I think the worst of the physical withdrawal is getting behind me so perhaps today might be a little more productive, spent a lot of yesterday feeling very lethargic and napping. I am really lucky though because being a pastor without a present placement I'm not under pressure to accomplish this while having to work at the same time. Praise God He's getting me through it just like I knew he would.

 

[Evie1980]

That is great! Nothing like a bit of relaxation whilst your body gets back to normal without all the chemicals in it. What I used to love to do in the beginning of quitting was mark of all the great things that were happening to my body. So at the moment your nerve endings are regrowing and you are starting to taste and smell better! Awesome! Enjoy day 6 and keep the plants, pets and family alive!

<H2>Smoking cessation timeline – the health benefits over time

• In 20 minutes, your blood pressure and pulse rate decrease, and the body temperature of your hands and feet increase.
• Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the blood’s ability to carry oxygen. At 8 hours, the carbon monoxide level in your blood decreases to normal. With the decrease in carbon monoxide, your blood oxygen level increases to normal.
• At 24 hours, your risk of having a heart attack decreases.
• At 48 hours, nerve endings start to regrow and the ability to smell and taste is enhanced.
• Between 2 weeks and 3 months, your circulation improves, walking becomes easier and you don’t cough or wheeze as often. Phlegm production decreases. Within several months, you have significant improvement in lung function.
• In 1 to 9 months, coughs, sinus congestion, fatigue and shortness of breath decrease as you continue to see significant improvement in lung function. Cilia, tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs, regain normal function.
• In 1 year, risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack is reduced to half that of a smoker.
• Between 5 and 15 years after quitting, your risk of having a stroke returns to that of a non-smoker.
• In 10 years, your risk of lung cancer drops. Additionally, your risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney and pancreas decrease. Even after a decade of not smoking however, your risk of lung cancer remains higher than in people who have never smoked. Your risk of ulcer also decreases.
• In 15 years, your risk of coronary heart disease and heart attack in similar to that of people who have never smoked. The risk of death returns to nearly the level of a non-smoker.

Smoking Cessation Timeline: What Happens When You Quit | Highlight HEALTH</H2>

 

[david1985]

Congratulations on quitting! As a past smoker, I know how difficult it can be to quit. I started at a young age and felt that getting addicted to cigarettes was something that couldn't happen to me. Before I knew it I was hooked!

It took me 2 months to quit, but what helped was slowly easing myself off of cigarettes. I started off by doing 2 less then normal and when that was ok, I kept decreasing the amount I smoked until I was down to 2 / day and then it was a cinch. Prayer also helped me in the process. I definitely owe a lot of it to that.

 

[Evie1980]

Hey ReverendRock,

Just wondering how it is all going with you quit?

Blessings, Evie