Thanks, Bob. 
I actually quit once when I was 11 and then again in the summer between the 9th and 10th grades, and then started again when I saw a couple friends smoking. My parents always smoked and so did family members.
About seven years ago I got sick as a dog and went three weeks without a cigarette and dreamt some of the wildest dreams--mostly relating to smoking. I was so depressed. I wanted a cigarette so bad, but I didn't want to want one. But I picked it back up again when I went to work for a female attorney who was being run out of the firm we worked in. She was being papered to death and guess who had to handle all that paper? So anyway.... I don't know.
I know I'll quit one day............. pray it's sooner, not later.
Thank you for your encouragement, though!
Gina,
If it's your desire to quit smoking, I hope God answers your Prayers. You have to hate smoking and not desire to do so, only God can cause you to not desire this practice and to hate it. I quit twice for seven years, but I'm also a smoker, but I don't hate smoking, don't want to be a phoney and state that I hate it when I don't. People with type A personalities, aggressive go getters and ones that get bored easy tend to either smoke, overindulge in Alcohol, are sex addicts, workaholics, exercise aholics or some type of " oholic."
Of course, there are worse things you could be doing, I'm sure you already know what they are, Personally, I don't want to quit smoking cigarettes and replace it with a worse habit like mistreating My Wife, etc. Ray admits in an Email that the bible doesn't specifically mention it, although He says it's definitely a Carnal act, basically what isn't.
Ray's Email Response Below.
Dear Friend out there:
I believe that your friends attitude is actually more important than the lusts of the fresh that he enjoys. Often people (both sexes) are on their "best behavior" when they are courting. They are trying to "close a sale" if you will, and they know that it is important to "APPEAR" better than they really are. Am I saying this is the case with your friend? No. I don't really know your friend. I am merely forewarning you what you need to be aware of.
I know people who smoke and drink who are fine people. Do most such people have a deep love for the Truths of God and strong desire to live out the Truths of God in their personal lives? No. Not generally. But then again, there are those who are real religious zealots who don't fare much better even without some of these carnal desires of the flesh.
If your friend is suggesting that smoking pot is okay, how do you know he is not already doing it, but testing you to see how receptive your are to the idea?
There is no mention of "smoking" in the Scriptures, as it appears to have been a more recent invention of modern times, so I can't give you specific examples of it in Scripture. It is a "lust of the flesh." It produces physical pleasure, but apparently GREAT PHYSICAL DAMAGE to the body. My father smoked for over a half century and died a horrible painful death from emphysema.
And if one of the parents smoke, you can almost bet that the children will smoke.
As for drinking. No, the wine mentioned in Scripture was not weak like water. There are a dozen or more Scriptures that make reference to "drunkenness" and it is always condemned.
Here are a few:
"And take heed to yourselves lest at any time your hearts be overcharged [weighed down] with surfeiting [carousing], and DRUNKENNESS, and care of this life, and so that day come upon you unaware" (Luke 21:34).
"Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and DRUNKENNESS, not in chambering [licentiousness] and wantonness [lewdness], not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH, TO FULFILL THE LUSTS THEREOF" (Rom. 13:13).
"Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulsions, wrath, strife, sedition's, herisies, envyings, murder, DRUNKENNESS, revelings, and such like of the which I tell you before as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things SHALL NOT INHERIT THE KINGDOM OF GOD" (Rom. 5:19-21).
All these warnings being said, is there a proper use of alcohol? Yes there is. Jesus drank wine, as did all the Apostles. Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana. And surely as the host suggested, they did not save the best "grape juice" till last--it was WINE.
Wine and STRONGER drinks were permissible under the law of Moses:
"And you shall bestow that money for whatsoever your soul lusts after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for STRONG DRINK..." (Deut. 14:26).
Notice that even Paul (who sternly warned against "drunkenness"), that wine can be beneficial:
"Drink no longer water, but use A LITTLE wine [don't get DRUNK] for thy stomach's sake and your often [frequent] infirmities [sicknesses]" (I Tim. 5:23).
So there, briefly, is what the Scriptures say regarding wine and strong drink, but your situation will have to be evaluated by you. Ask God to guide you in ALL YOUR DECISIONS IN LIFE.
I realize that your problem is no smaller now than before you wrote to me, but maybe there is some wisdom here for you to consider. Let me just say this: Character flaws that have the potential to escalate over time, will drive away any strong romantic attractions that you are feeling NOW.
We will all pray for your best future.
God be with you,
Ray
Gina, I'm not justifying smoking in what I present above, but admittedly, I'm afraid to quit at this time for fear I'll become a much bigger Jerk than I already am. I recall the last time I quit, not only did I gain weight, I became an abusive Jack Jerk(can't use the word I want here). So, I figured that it I get overly aggressive and abusive to my Wife, it would be worse than smoking outside and not bothering anyone else. So, when God puts the desire in Me to quit and hate the practice, then I will, but don't want to discourage you.
Just Being Honest, Samson.
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Topic: Smokers (Read 11920 times)