Lack of Conviction?

[GetSaved!!]

Im kinda confused on some things.I am a smoker and know I need to quit and want to quit,but I just absolutely dont feel motivated.Ive tried several times and dont know if I have failed so many times that I have given up or what.

Thing is I feel like I am not being convicted by the Spirit on this.Kinda scares me because I am not feeling guilty about the cigs.But yet for example the other day I was having lunch with someone and the subject came up on a guy we know that has a speech impetement that I used to make fun of the way he talks.Anyway out of nowhere I guess the old me reared its ugly head and I made a demeaning comment about him.

Anyway I realised what I had the done before the comment even finished leaving my mouth and felt terrible,and I feel sure I was convicted then.Just like I went to a bar I used to go to last weekend and sat and had a couple n/a beers.I felt like a complete stranger in there,especially after a few people came in and was being loud with filthy language,I just wanted to leave.

Question is am I letting my emotions rule me?Just find it strange why no conviction,or at least I think so with these cigs?I know its an age old question if smoking is a sin or not,even if its not I am not showing no self control with them,back up to the same amount I smoked before I got motivated to quit.


Have been feeling kinda dry and empty for about 3 weeks now,kinda peaceful yet a little too carefree for comfort.I dont know if I am trying to lean to my understanding instead of trusting God.I am praying for deliverance from these cigarettes daily yet this empty feeling makes me feel like I dont mean what Im praying.

All help and prayers are appreciated.Thank you

 

[jculver]

Im kinda confused on some things.I am a smoker and know I need to quit and want to quit,but I just absolutely dont feel motivated.Ive tried several times and dont know if I have failed so many times that I have given up or what.

Thing is I feel like I am not being convicted by the Spirit on this.Kinda scares me because I am not feeling guilty about the cigs.But yet for example the other day I was having lunch with someone and the subject came up on a guy we know that has a speech impetement that I used to make fun of the way he talks.Anyway out of nowhere I guess the old me reared its ugly head and I made a demeaning comment about him.

Anyway I realised what I had the done before the comment even finished leaving my mouth and felt terrible,and I feel sure I was convicted then.Just like I went to a bar I used to go to last weekend and sat and had a couple n/a beers.I felt like a complete stranger in there,especially after a few people came in and was being loud with filthy language,I just wanted to leave.

Question is am I letting my emotions rule me?Just find it strange why no conviction,or at least I think so with these cigs?I know its an age old question if smoking is a sin or not,even if its not I am not showing no self control with them,back up to the same amount I smoked before I got motivated to quit.


Have been feeling kinda dry and empty for about 3 weeks now,kinda peaceful yet a little too carefree for comfort.I dont know if I am trying to lean to my understanding instead of trusting God.I am praying for deliverance from these cigarettes daily yet this empty feeling makes me feel like I dont mean what Im praying.

All help and prayers are appreciated.Thank you

1Co 10:13 ... But God [is] faithful, who will not allow you* to be tempted beyond what you* are able [or, capable of], _but_ with the temptation He will also make the way out, for your* being able to endure [it].

God gives you an escape.

Try nicotine gum. I'm serious, it worked for me. I only smoked about 5 years, but I smoked a lot. When I prayed about smoking this is what God did for me.


First step is stop buying cigs. The gum really helps control the physical withdrawl symptoms, and they can be tough.

Pray that you be delivered and you will be

 

[Coconut]

GetSaved, you asked for my response and for what its worth, here it is

First let me note, I know you have read the thread about nicotene addiction, and the scripture I posted there showing God has said "its not what entereth into a man that defileth him" Truth is the "age old question" has clearly been answered by God, but men still go about deciding for themselves what will make a man righteous. The great incurable malady of 'christianity'
Tho I should`nt say incurable, only as far as religious man won`t look to Christ.

Why should you expect the Holy Spirit to convict you of something that has nothing to do with making you more Christ like? This after all is the sole purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Laying that aside, I do think the Holy Spirit is most concerned you not live in constant defeat because of lack of understanding about who you are in Christ.

"Question is am I letting my emotions rule me?"

I counted at least 8 times you said "I feel" in your post. I suspect you already know the answer to your question.

Its as simple as this, we have to walk with God by faith. If we try to walk by sight, (which also includes feelings, emotions) we will keep faltering, stumbling, falling flat on our faces. Why? Because our human falibilities will constantly dictate failure to us.

Truth, we are failures. Every last one of us.
More truth, God is fully aware of this.
Salvations truth, God made a way of escape.

Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

This is where faith enters the picture.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Ok, lets say you`ve asked Christ to change you, (I know you have) but you dont 'feel' any different, or you dont 'see' any change. Watch and wait.

God says trust me now, this is a process, and you must have faith, contrary to all the 'evidence' that I am able to finish this work I`ve begun in you.

Who is doing the work? This is where we run in to trouble. We know what God has said, but our flesh seeks to glorify itself by taking a wee bit of credit, if not all.

Paul says "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

I may become most unpopular by time this post is done, because its much more popular to puff up the flesh with euphemisms that make us sound so much more spiritual than we actually are.

Yes I have seen and believe in the transforming power of God in men and womens lives, sometimes the change is immediate and drastic, but he or she still has to keep walking, one day at a time, one foot in front of the other, and this is where it gets gritty, and we dont always look so pretty nor spiritual if you will.


A long time ago I asked God to change me, and I know Hes doing it, but it seems ever so slowly. I truly wish He would just hurry up

But thats not Gods way. God prunes, allows us to grow maybe an inch, prunes some more...(hello, nice to meet you, i`m an old, one foot tall child of God, give or take an inch....He sends the rains, downpours bytimes, lets the winds howl...finds our weak points (yes the other day I slammed a door really really hard, and my weak point is obviously not that door) and then God lovingly prunes us some more.

Do you see? That why Paul said when I recognize I am weak, thats when I am my strongest. When I find myself weak, I must call upon God for more of His grace, and grace enters with the strength to prune away my weak spots. Less weak spots = more strength, or me being stronger, all glory to God, not myself. If you say I cant cut out this thing or that, whats wrong with ME? - you are trying to prune yourself. How rediculous is that? Your life is in the Vine, and branches cant do a thing for themselves other than keep drinking from that Vine. The Vine [Christ] gives us life, keeps us growing, changing, and it happens slowly, almost without us realizing it.

God knows I have not a single ounce of goodness to boast of, and He gets the attention of the man or woman who does by putting a little more pressure on our weak spots, (God knows we all have them) and our songs of self adulation, soon become squeals of sad defeat. (not said glibly, I simply know God won`t allow us to glory in self long, without throwing some mud on us) I would worry more if its been too long since God gave me a mudbath, for doesnt God chastise those He loves?


Do you want to be able to brag about how righteously you lived today? Oh so would I! You didnt do anything wrong, you didnt say one single thing you shouldnt have said, did`nt think one thing you should`nt have thought, you were completely self controlled in body, mind and spirit. If that ever happens, you will finally have attained the kind of righteousness no man on earth ever has, tho some would like to claim. (Read Romans ch 3)


We can build on the sand of self, or we can build on Christ. If I didnt say anything I shouldnt have said today, its all because God gave me enough grace....and if I did say something I shouldnt have said, God offers me more grace...(satan would like you to think Gods grace is not sufficient for your weaknesses, he interjects his lies into our minds using how we 'feel' about ourselves as his ink)

I can only say, yea satan, I`m not much of a saint, but you`ve met Jesus...just look at Him! He gives me glory for all my shame...well glory to God! You want to know the secret of living a life pleasing to God? Get your eyes on the Saviour! You know satan doesnt have to get you to 'sin', he only has to get you focused on self, think about that.

My son sings a song, "I cant even walk without holding your hand...down on my knees thats where I`ve learned to say, I can`t even walk without holding your hand" Thats the truth! If God allows our weakness to bring us to our knees, why should we protest by saying NO,
I wont have none of it!

God says "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in [your] weakness. [Italics mine]

You might be glad to know, I just preached this sermon to myself, and you got to listen in lol

 

[jculver]

First let me note, I know you have read the thread about nicotene addiction, and the scripture I posted there showing God has said "its not what entereth into a man that defileth him" Truth is the "age old question" has clearly been answered by God, but men still go about deciding for themselves what will make a man righteous. The great incurable malady of 'christianity'
Tho I should`nt say incurable, only as far as religious man won`t look to Christ.

Why should you expect the Holy Spirit to convict you of something that has nothing to do with making you more Christ like? This after all is the sole purpose of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Laying that aside, I do think the Holy Spirit is most concerned you not live in constant defeat because of lack of understanding about who you are in Christ.

It may not be "righteous" to quit smoking you could say, so maybe you shouldn't feel convicted there. However, what about the appearance to non-Christians? That's what got me to quit really. You might say "It doesn't make you more Christ like to not smoke", but I doubt Christ would run around smoking cigarettes with the health issues they pose trying to show people he was the way to eternal life. I'm not saying it is necessarily a sin, but it does paint a certain image. You CAN quit, it just isn't easy. Just because it's not a "sin" doesn't mean God won't help you; cigarettes kill you, of course he will help you if you ask. As a smoker you know there are about 9 million reasons to quit even if smoking isn't a sin; what better time then now? Get the gum or a lozenge, it's the escape God provided when I prayed and it worked.