Two Major Issues

[All Becomes New]

I have two strong vices. Lust and smoking tobacco.

I have made progress in these areas, but every day is a battle. I need prayer. I don't want to sin. I want to be holy. But my flesh is weak.

I know people who are much older than me who struggle with lust. So it is not something that just goes away. You have to really work on it. Yet, I believe that Christ wants us to have victory in our battle against sin. This does not mean sinless perfection, but it does mean that we are being conformed to Christ more by sinning less over time. As for smoking, this is something I started when I was a young person. I had my first cigarette when I was like 12 years old or something. Later in life, I picked it up as a habit. It is true that bad companies corrupt good morals. If I never hung out with those guys, I never would have started smoking.

Please pray for me. I don't think I have any chance of finding a wife, so my only shot at being a holy person is to rid myself of lust.

 

[Joseph G]

I have two strong vices. Lust and smoking tobacco.

I have made progress in these areas, but every day is a battle. I need prayer. I don't want to sin. I want to be holy. But my flesh is weak.

I know people who are much older than me who struggle with lust. So it is not something that just goes away. You have to really work on it. Yet, I believe that Christ wants us to have victory in our battle against sin. This does not mean sinless perfection, but it does mean that we are being conformed to Christ more by sinning less over time. As for smoking, this is something I started when I was a young person. I had my first cigarette when I was like 12 years old or something. Later in life, I picked it up as a habit. It is true that bad companies corrupt good morals. If I never hung out with those guys, I never would have started smoking.

Please pray for me. I don't think I have any chance of finding a wife, so my only shot at being a holy person is to rid myself of lust.

Said a fervent prayer for you, friend. Been there, on both counts.

I quit smoking after 30 yrs, 2 packs a day. The final year I was in almost continual prayer for God's help to quit. Finally set a date and tried to taper down. I still remember that very last one - trying to re-negotiate for just 1 more pack... and it's the first time I ever heard God shout, "Now!". I snubbed that thing in the ashtray and threw it and all the empty packs lying around and my dear lighter in the dumpster.

The funny thing? I never had any physical withdrawal. I quit feeling the need to jump up every hour to "take a break" outside.

My dependency on those little idols was replaced by dependency on the Comforter - the Holy Spirit - instead. Weeks went by and by golly - I could cope with stress through prayer and Bible study - and even thrive. It wasn't maybe 3 months before I didn't even think about smokes at all. It's been 3 years now - and I can think of maybe twice when I had a fleeting temptation and I was able to flick it off like a little fly on my shoulder. Ah... freedom!

So it's possible, trust me. Jesus is the Waymaker!

As for lust, if it's cool I'd like to send you some encouragement via pm. Lemme know. It is likewise totally overcomeable! Is that a word? Ha!

God bless!

p.s. hey, as for finding a wife, don't sweat it. If it's God's will, you're gonna turn a corner one day and there she'll be. She'll love you for who you are, man, just like our Savior.

p.s.s. Then she'll mold ya, along with Him!

 

[All Becomes New]

So it's possible, trust me. Jesus is the Waymaker!

I was listening to this when I read this:

As for lust, if it's cool I'd like to send you some encouragement via pm. Lemme know. It is likewise totally overcomeable! Is that a word? Ha!

Sure. Feel free to send a PM.

 

[Richard T]

I can't say for you personally, but God is still bringing couple of all ages together. I had practically given up until I looked overseas.

 

[Unqualified]

I quit smoking in 1983. I prayed a lot and sang a lot while I was was working. Ahem! I wanted to go back packing and did. God blessed me.

but lust I never did overcome till I got married at 53. He didn’t love me any less. Can’t get rid of it but don’t act on it, if you can. Pretty near impossible for some. But God did take my sex drive while I as dating. Maybe he will do that for you. But you’re right @OP it’s a daily exercise to defeat it. Don’t give up. Step out do something to help yourself and if you walk with God He will bless you. God gives strength, peace and love, a winning combination.

 

[timf]

One of the more difficult perspectives on Christianity is that the harder you try, the more difficult it can seem. This may be because our Christian walk and maturity is like our salvation, it is not of works. We can think that it is up to us to conquer ourselves or make ourselves more holy. However, just as we are saved by trusting in Jesus, we also mature. The book of Galatians is helpful in this regard because they had been convinced to go backwards in their faith and try to make themselves followers of the law (works). Chapter five is particularly useful in that it describes the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit.

Romans sheds some light by saying mortify (put to death) the deeds of the flesh. This is perhaps best done through starvation. The bible also says to make no provision for the flesh.. One might see the transition from selfishness (the flesh) to selflessness (the Spirit) as the measure of Christian maturity. Rather than trying harder, the solution may lie in transformation.