good life

If you liked this post, check out more from good life.

It was during my tenth year of smoking that I started studying the Bible.  Notice I said studying.  I had continually read the Bible for years, since I was twelve years old.  I was 32 when I started studying.  Whats the difference?  Reading just caused me to become familiar with the words, while studying demanded that I put the words in the Bible to use .
  One day while studying and smoking a cigarette I came across a verse of scripture "Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Gal 6:9  I read it over and over again so much that I memorized it.  
  It occurred that Scripture was talking to me about smoking.  I looked up every word of it in the dictionary. I personalized it and wrote it down with my new difinition.  It turned out to read this way  "I will not grow tired of quitting smoking, for in the end I will win, as long as I don't give up".  I was sick and tired of smoking and after numerous attempts over the years I had given up hope that I could ever stop. But now I was now on a mission.
  I continued to smoke but I started to make it difficult.  I would force myself to wait five minutes before lighting up.  If I smoked in the house I would smoke only in the bathroom and while taking long hard drags I saw how hideous I looked in the mirror (It was no longer cool!).  But most importantly with every drag I quoted that Scripture to myself.   

  Little by little with each passing day I grew into being a nonsmoker.  I didn't beat myself up for not quitting overnight, just the opposite.  I acknowledged to myself that every little delay in lighting up, every little change in the habit was an accomplishment.  I quoted that Scripture to myself throughout the day and in the night, while I smoked and when I couldn't.  I became convinced that I was a nonsmoker and I needed to prove it. 
  As time went by I replaced the old habit with new ones.  When I took the first drag Instead of telling myself Aahh, that's good, I'd say yuck thats gross even though I didn't feel that way. I would pinch off some tobacco and put it directly on my tongue and ask myself Is this what I wanted in my body?  Instead of smoking I would do my nails, wash my hair or just enjoy not smelling like an old used sock. 
  In about six months I was totally free. That was fifteen years ago.  The Word works and I have used it in the exact same fashion in other areas of life.  If you have a bad habit try this and see and please let me know how you personalize it to work for you.