Someone asked me for advice on how to quit smoking...

The first thing you do is STOP SMOKING. Put out the one thats lit and stop saying "I'll quit after this pack" I said that all the time for years. I had such a hard time throwing away smokes...and dont' give em away either...that's sharing bad stuff. Never good. You have to decide for yourself that you want and deserve a better life. Hmm can not smoking really lead to a BETTER life....or does it just lead to a lack of smoke? I 'm not talking about a longer life, although that is a nice side effect but I belive life will become BETTER...even if you already think it's great. Smokes are the FIRST thing I gave up. Call me sometime, I would love to tell you everything that came after that!! --the things that I wansn't able to mark on the calendar! Anyway, I would love to say "I relied on my faith and God did all the work" But truthfully at the time my faith was pretty limp. I DONT recommend this but I substituted ice cream for smoke for the first week. Then I had three day's at home with cigars and alcohol. I smoked a lot of cigars, drank a lot of beer and avoided sitting in front of the TV doing nothing. I sat in my bedroom and did nothing instead-it was kinda weird. I DON'T RECOMMEND THAT EITHER...but thats what happened and I'm not gonna lie about it. THEN I spent the next five glorious smoke free days on the REVO adventure trip. Everyone knew I just quit cause when someone lit up a mile away I sounded the "I SMELL A MARLBORO" alarm. I had quite a gift for detecting the aroma. The smokers on the trip tried to keep it away from me and the non smokers were an INCREDIBLE, AMAZING ,LIFE CHANGING source of support. Then when I was smoke free for exactly a month, they (one lovely saint in particular) celebrated with me. Melted my heart, that she remembered...that was a huge encouragement and new source of motivation...I didn't want to let her down. Perhaps though some of the things I did to quit cigars and alcohol might be more helpfull. Because I beleive when I chose to quit smoking for the last time....it opened the door for my faith to begin growing. I am positive that with out the prayers and support of my brand new friends - at that point with my limp faith I would have failed fast. Step one : STOP SMOKING for yourself...not for the people who bug you about it...not even for your son. It has to be for YOU. Because you want a better life for YOU and beleive you deserve one. Step two: Avoid your usual smoking spots. TV smoker? Read a book. Car smoker? Roll up the windows! invite people who don't smoke to ride with you. Make friends with someone who has bad asthma! Smoke when you drink? AHA avoid alcohol! oooh two birds..one stone...don't know if you drink but not drinking was a HUGE part of me not smoking!! It's sooooo easy to rationalize one smoke after a month and two beers! STEP three (should actually be step one) : Ask God to help you AND THEN IMMEDIATLY thank Him for giving you the power to quit! He already gave you the power, if you have invited Jesus into your heart....you invited in all His power and authority over sin. It's sort of a package deal...you get Jesus - You get it ALL, you don't have to wait to become strong...you already are because HE is your strength! The Bible tells us to let ALL our requests be made known to God, with petition and THANKSGIVING. (phil 4:6-7) And to beleive we've already received what we've asked for. Thats why we go ahead and thank Him. He has already given us what we need. It is up to us to accept it. STEP four is REALLY POWERFULL: everytime you see a ciggarette, smell a ciggarette, think about ciggarette in any way for any length of time say out loud "I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me. I will not smoke. I do not want it. I am a non smoker". If you can't say it out loud cause your afraid of drawing attention or looking like a loon whisper it. write it down. at the VERY LEAST say it in your head.I beleive it is the devil and his lies that make addictions stick. It is only an addiction. If God meant for you to be a smoker he would have made you a chimney or at the very least a bush (get it, moses, burning bush--ha ha). But no, He made you a beautfull woman, A reflection of Himself, a TEMPLE for HIM to dwell in, HIS masterpeice NOT a chimney. So quote scripture at your addiction, the devil has to flee if Christ is in you. Even if your not yet saved there is still POWER in Gods word. It is still a SWORD and the devil and his lies crumble beneath it! BUT the devil can 't hear your thoughts so speaking the truth is important. I originally quit smoking cause I was tired of spending so much of my money on something that was hurting me. I got mad at Ciggarettes. They stole from me...at the time I had no idea just how much. As I quit my addictions I closed doors on SATAN. Now I know for sure(because the Bible tells me so) that he is prowling around me like a lion waiting to devour me because he fears me. He fears me because I found out who I am.I am the precious daughter of a mighty KING. A king who already defeated him once. I am a WARRIOR PRINCESS possesing the same power and authority that cast him out of heaven in the first place (because Jesus has the power and HE lives in me). I am not alone or unARMED. I am poised for battle, sheild up (faith) , sword drawn (BIBLE). My God can not be defeated. I will follow HIM. That is who YOU are too. The enemy doesn't want you to know it...he'll hide your truth in a cloud of smoke. Blow it away. Step One. KNOW God has already empowered you. Step two. Stop Smoking. Be blessed my friends, I love you. Warrior Princess Jen