It takes transformation!
As I was sitting in church this morning, listening to a well thought out sermon, I couldn't help but think of the correlation of a fulfilling spiritual life to a fulfilling quit.
Romans 12 has been the subject of late at our congregation and this chapter means so much to me in relation to my quit!
Rom 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
There is certainly a lot that we can gain from these first two verses, but verse two specifically makes an impact on my life.
It doesn't matter what we do in life, we have to involve our total being, to be dedicated and good at it. According to this verse: as one of God's children, I should be different from the world; transformed, not conformed. Not only that, this transformation is a renewing of my mind and allows me to prove what is good and acceptable through the will (God's word/scriptures/Holy Bible) of God.
In relation to my quit, it is imperative that I transform my mind as well. I have to completely change the way I think and even act; for I have been programmed for almost 39 years now to think and act in a way that would allow for my nicotine addiction!
I'm not going to be the same person!
One of my very good friends and brother in The Phalanx of July 2016, told me not long into his quit that his best friend informed him he was not the same since quitting dip. I would expect so!
As addicts we must make changes in every facet of our lives, because our lives are used to being focused around getting a dip, chew or smoke. We absolutely, positively must transform our minds and renew it! This is why quitting is a daily promise! We have to daily renew our minds to the concept of being nicotine free.
One day it will not be as much of a struggle as it is now, but just as being a spiritually dedicated is a daily walk and a daily transformation, being and addict will always be a part of our lives. Just as we can never let our guard down when it comes to sinful pleasures and the temptations we face in our spiritual walk, we can never let our guard down against the hated NIC!
Rom 12:9 is another one of my favorite verses in this chapter. It reads "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good."
If you are a visitor reading this, or a newly minted member; no, this is not a spiritual site and no, we do not support one religion over another. Who/what we support are individuals just like you that truly want to have a renewing of the mind and transform yourselves from a slave, to someone that is free from tobacco!
Love yourself and right this minute throw the cancer causing tobacco away! Start down a path that will eventually cause you to abhor (hate) your addiction and the tobacco itself and then cling to what is good! That which is good is your eventual brothers/sisters in quit and every other single person on this site that wants to see you succeed and be free!
I am but a PM and eventual text away and I want you to be free!
suthern_gntlman
