Stop Smoking praise thread!!

[I'm all 67X]

To all struggling smokers:

I would like to impose my testimony on you. I picked up the habit at the age of 21. It was shocking to all who knew me because I was a former state champion/record holder and division 1 NCAA athlete. I got hooked directly. I am now 1 year and almost 8 months loosed from that bondage. I sometimes liked it, but toward the end, I thought it ugly for me, and terrible for my witness. Feeling like I had reached a place where I was ready to confront it, I formulated the following plan:

Since I had an hour long commute to work each day, I began a regiment of prayer- beseeching, more or less, to beg God to take them away. I couldn't see quitting slowly as an option for me, it's not my nature to ease in or out of things. Since He had already taken away the alcohol and partying with no lingering desires, I called on Him to do the same with cigs. I begged for 30 days straight and on July 4th of 2006, I woke up without a craving or a shred of desire. I had smoked my last before bed and although we were attending a gathering, I had no feelings whatsoever for even a puff. God did it again, He TOOK it away- lock, stock, and barrel and I have not had a single craving since. It was as if I had never touched them.

I put on a few pounds, but nothing big, but food tasted better- my nose worked again! I had no idea how desensitized it had gotten... I also found myself with lots of extra time, and gradually found some extra energy (wind).

Maybe my method will work for someone else- pretty complicated, eh? When my doc asked about it and I told my story, he asked if I would talk to all of his patients who smoke! I took that as a compliment and a testimony delivered.

Praise God- he will do what we ask if we ask for the right reasons and with the right heart. Who'da thunk it?

Fight that good fight, you CAN do it with the right Partner.:preach

[BlessedinHim]

To all struggling smokers:

I would like to impose my testimony on you. I picked up the habit at the age of 21. It was shocking to all who knew me because I was a former state champion/record holder and division 1 NCAA athlete. I got hooked directly. I am now 1 year and almost 8 months loosed from that bondage. I sometimes liked it, but toward the end, I thought it ugly for me, and terrible for my witness. Feeling like I had reached a place where I was ready to confront it, I formulated the following plan:

Since I had an hour long commute to work each day, I began a regiment of prayer- beseeching, more or less, to beg God to take them away. I couldn't see quitting slowly as an option for me, it's not my nature to ease in or out of things. Since He had already taken away the alcohol and partying with no lingering desires, I called on Him to do the same with cigs. I begged for 30 days straight and on July 4th of 2006, I woke up without a craving or a shred of desire. I had smoked my last before bed and although we were attending a gathering, I had no feelings whatsoever for even a puff. God did it again, He TOOK it away- lock, stock, and barrel and I have not had a single craving since. It was as if I had never touched them.

I put on a few pounds, but nothing big, but food tasted better- my nose worked again! I had no idea how desensitized it had gotten... I also found myself with lots of extra time, and gradually found some extra energy (wind).

Maybe my method will work for someone else- pretty complicated, eh? When my doc asked about it and I told my story, he asked if I would talk to all of his patients who smoke! I took that as a compliment and a testimony delivered.

Praise God- he will do what we ask if we ask for the right reasons and with the right heart. Who'da thunk it?

Fight that good fight, you CAN do it with the right Partner.:preach

Jesus is the best friend... He will never let you down.

[MixedNuts]

I tried smoking at age 12, I became violently ill, dizzy and lost my voice for two solid weeks, in the years that followed, with encouragement from my teen friends, I kept trying and every single time, my body would react in this way, also a severe allergic swelling all over my body. Friends kept assuring me that my body would ultimately adjust to it if I gave it time, but each time I would try even one puff, I'd end up in the hospital. Today I can say I'm glad I am sensitive to it because I never became hooked on cigs. I have lost many friends and relatives to the damages of cig, cigar smoke...mostly the damage done by cigs. So it's a good thing to see you guys working hard with God's help overcoming this hook on cigs. I know it must be so very hard on you but so proud of you that you are conquering and overcoming this bondage. "And God saw it and said it was "goooood." ;)

[Mopsie]

Smoke free for two weeks! Together we can do this and be an encouragement to one another!

[Glory]

I've a question:

Since most of you consider smoking a sin, well... what if one first began smoking at age 40 years old FOR MEDICAL REASONS? Do you still consider it a sin and look down on that christian?

Nicotine is proven to help Ulcerative Colitus which is a disabling disease.

[I'm all 67X]

I've a question:

Since most of you consider smoking a sin, well... what if one first began smoking at age 40 years old FOR MEDICAL REASONS? Do you still consider it a sin and look down on that christian?

Nicotine is proven to help Ulcerative Colitus which is a disabling disease.

This is an intriguing question and one can be torn by it. I'm reminded of Paul's teaching about not offending or causing a weaker brother to stumble and if one considers a thing or activity a sin and you don't, it is a sin for him. I, at times, felt downright ostracized by BELIEVERS when I was in the struggle stage. A good friend kept me from being an "ex-smoker Nazi" once I kicked it because it is damaging to a person who may be in a rough spot. I beat myself up incessantly and needlessly- it was between me and God, not anyone else.

I've heard the argument for the body being a temple, yet we pollute the temple by the very food we eat- all of us- so it becomes quite a bit the point of hypocrisy (there's that word!) to impose a personal sin agenda on someone. Hey, the church is for the sick people, as Jesus said, it should be a place where we can heal. UC is no small matter, I was suspected of having it about 10 years ago (thankfully it wasn't the right dx- it was inability to cope with stress) and it was a scary, scary time. Cigs do have a physical effect on the body- they are very effectual as a 'laxative'.

Point is, we need to embrace the love we are commanded to show and be supportive and understanding of a brother or sister regardless of appearance (talking into the mirror now) and encourage when one is trying to eliminate a 'personal' sin, at the same time not causing one to stumble regardless our best intentions. It's so hard for feeble humans.

:ohno

[Glory]

IMALL67X, your word are very wise and from the Holy Spirit. God bless you!

[I'mWaiting4Him]

My daughter is on day 12 - NO SMOKING!!! I can't contain my joy!!!:yeah

[mary]

Keep up the quitting
because you are all
winners!

May we all lean on the
Lord for our strength.

[mary]

Keep quitting!:thumb