How to Stop Smoking the Christian Way

The Holy Bible

People who smoke for most of their lives have a 50% chance of dying as a direct result of that habit. The Center for Disease Control has labeled smoking "the leading preventable cause of death" in the United States, being responsible for one in every five deaths annually. Even if you realize these facts, quitting smoking may be the most difficult battle you ever face.

Jesus' beautiful example of love for God and for his neighbor no doubt touches your life and molds your thinking. His mercy and self-sacrificing dedication to doing his Father's will impresses and motivates you. Many people don't realize how valuable his message is when facing the difficult battle to break free from an addiction to tobacco. By following these simple steps, prayerfully meditating on the Bible texts cited and relying on your Creator, you can succeed!

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bible

Make the Commitment

1. Understand why you need to quit: your life and health are precious to your Creator (Psalms 36:9, Acts 14:16--17, John 3:16). You are responsible for treating yourself and others well (2 Corinthians 7:1, Matthew 22:39, Matthew 7:12) and you can't do that while filling your lungs and those of others with smoke.

2. Set a date, write it down and make sure it remains visible for a week or more before you quit, (Proverbs 21:5, Ephesians 5:15--17). Make sure there are no cigarettes available when that day arrives (1 Corinthians 10:13) and go out of your way to avoid cigarettes and smokers from that day forward (Proverbs 13:20).

3. Realize that you may not succeed in quitting on the first try. If you have a setback, don't beat yourself up (2 Corinthians 2:7--8, Romans 2:4). Simply accept the fact that you're not perfect (Mark 14:38), recommit and move forward.

4. When you finally do succeed, you can trust that the joy you feel is mirrored by the joy of your Creator (Matthew 18:12--14). You couldn't have done it without him, and he's delighted that you cared enough to fight that battle for him!

Tips & Warnings

• Never underestimate the power of prayer! During every step in the process, prayer can make the way easier and the goal clearer (Hebrews 4:16, Psalms 55:22).

• Be prepared for withdrawal symptoms including nausea, irritability, insomnia and a strong craving for cigarettes. Check with your doctor for possible prescriptions to help ease some of these symptoms and help you to make it through this difficult period.

References

• The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention
• Watchtower Magazine: Why Quit Smoking?
• Watchtower Magazine: How You Can Quit

Resources

• The Centers For Disease Control and Prevention