Today, January 11, 2025, marks my fourteenth year of being delivered from a smoking addiction! I have never forgotten this hard-fought victory, and every year, I check in with Jesus Christ to say a heartfelt thank You!
I have been doing ministry for longer than fourteen years, but I was still addicted. I was ashamed and wanted more than anything to quit but I was afraid to lose what I now know was my best friend. I went to "my addiction" more than I realized. I was seeking God daily, reading God's word, praying, and actively engaging in being a disciple of Jesus and yet I still had a friend that stuck closer than anything else. This statement may not make sense to you unless you have had an addiction.
Smoking is not just about the addiction to nicotine, but it is about the habits formed around it – the same is true for many addictions. We rarely recognize the driving force behind an addiction, but fear is one of them.
Addiction is a compulsive, chronic, physical, or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, behavior, or activity. Addiction always has a harmful physical, mental, or emotional effect.
I picked up my first cigarette when I was only nine years old! By the time I was fourteen, I was habitually smoking and hiding it from my dad. I was a heavy smoker for thirty years before I finally got to a point where, in my heart, I truly hated this filthy addiction.
On 1/1/11, I was praying about how to quit smoking when I heard the verse, "these only come out with prayer and fasting." I took Jesus' words to heart and fasted and prayed to become holy in the area of addiction. I started a fast and cried out to the Lord to make me sick from cigarettes. I don't recommend this to everyone, but it worked for me. Every time I tried to smoke a cigarette that day, I got sick! My husband and I began commanding the spirit of addiction, generational, by the way, and any other demons connected to leave. After some time of manifestation, I was free!
I have never, not once, looked back at that addiction for comfort. I also did not pick up another addiction to replace this one.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. - 1 Timothy 1:7
I was afraid that if I gave up smoking, I would no longer have a way to cope with the many mental challenges I had over the years. I realized that cigarettes were my best friend and my entire world revolved around them. I had all the habits of smoking, and I could not go anywhere without making sure I had my "friends" with me.
After I recognized this was idolatry, it made it easier to give up because I wanted the presence of God in my life more than anything else.
Jesus cannot resist a genuine heart cry for mercy. He always shows up. I was genuinely in need of the power of God to set me free. Fear was the weapon the devil used against my mind to keep me addicted.
Can you relate?
I bet some of you can.
There is a strong spirit of fear around all addictions. One of the fears is the "what if I don't have access" to this vice.
I was afraid to do anything without some way of control.
Addiction is a lack of control rooted in the need to control.
Fear can be a reaction to having no control over a person, situation, relationship, etc.
When controlling fear rears up, a spirit of fear engages.
I can write so much more about this subject, but I think this is enough to challenge your strategy toward becoming free from any addiction or helping someone else.
Let's Pray,
Father God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to set the captives free! I am so grateful that I have a supernatural ability to take down any addiction, thought pattern, sinful habits, or compulsions because Your power resides in me. I have a Spirit of power, love, and discipline, and so do all of Your disciples and children. Help Your body of believers to become purified in their body, soul, and spirit! I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen
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