Suggestions to Ex-Smokers!
- Published in Ministry to the Needy!
By C Barnabas
- Turn your problem to the Lord. When you get the temptation or craving for smoking say aloud the Bible verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil 4:13 and pray to God for strength. He is able to help those who are tempted. “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted”. Heb 2:19
- Pray very earnestly every morning asking God to give you power to overcome the craving and desire. “For with God nothing will be impossible” Luke 1:37. Whenever you are tempted, pray to God and surrender your members to God.
- Replace your pack of cigarettes with the New Testament. Let the New Testament be placed in the place in the shirt pocket, where there was the ‘pack’ of cigarettes earlier. So whenever your hand reaches for the cigarette ‘pack’, let the hand handle the Word of God. “Your Word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you” Ps 119:11. Read and memorise the Word of God.
- Never be lazy but always be busy. It is said that the lazy man’s heart is the devils ‘workshop’.
- Tell your friends and relatives about your decision to quit smoking. It will prevent you from backsliding again, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the Word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death”. Rev 12:11.
- Have plenty of exercise and practice breathing fresh air. Drink fresh water, fruit juices and involve in spiritual activities “I say then; Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh”. Gal 5:16.
- Find a Christian friend, share your problems and pray with him. “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion” Eccl 4:9, 10.
- Celebrate your victory by using the money saved, to help others and support the ministry. “You can also give thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light and ‘has delivered you from the power of darkness’ and ‘translated you into the kingdom of the Son of His love’ Col 1:12, 13.
- Pray for those who are addicted to smoking and lead them to Christ to quit smoking. “Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” James 5:19, 20.
- Daily surrender your life completely to God and be a witness to the Lord as a Spirit filled Christians. “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” Rom 6:13, 14.