Do you feel like a habit or a sin pattern has a hold on you? Dr. Charles Stanley responds to this email from a viewer concerned about a struggle they can’t seem to overcome. In Touch Ministries, 2011. For more messages from Charles Stanley, including this week’s broadcast, go to www.intouch.org/watch
is there an issue in your life that you
ought to be dealing with God certainly
has a way of making it clear to us when
a habit or sin is in need of attention
he faithfully provides a way of escape
from temptation in the midst of our
weakness but there are many times when
we seem to make little and no progress
in these areas what are we to do then
the day’s email is from Debra who writes
smoking has a strong hold on me when I
get upset or nervous that’s when I tend
to smoke when I quit for a few days I
find myself overeating please help I
want to get rid of smoking before it
gets rid of me well let me ask you a
question how do you view smoking the use
it is a pleasure at times a habit a sin
or a strong whole well it appears that
you have come to the conclusion that
it’s a strong hole in your life it can
be all of those things what you have to
ask is this what is it that ignites this
desire within you to smoke and you
mentioned the fact that you are upset
and nervous what is it that upsets you
what is it that you’re nervous about
it’s important for you to identify what
it is that brings this on there is an
underlying cause smoking is a response
to one of those causes whatever it might
be but it’s a response that is costly it
could be deadly you have to agree with
me that it certainly is not worth the
price that you’re paying so you have to
honestly consider what are the
consequences of what I’m doing this
habit in my life is bringing me it could
bring me in fact to the end of my life
God will reveal the real cause if you
will enter they want to know it and I
believe according to your email that you
do the question is that you believe he
can and will deliver you well I want to
read you several scriptures and the
first one is in frustrations chapter 10
and verse 13 which says no temptation
has overtaken you but such as is common
to man
and God is faithful who will not allow
you to be tempted beyond what you’re
able
with the temptation will provide the way
of escape also so when you find yourself
tempted what do you do well I want to
turn to another passage here in 2nd
Corinthians and there’s a passage here
in this 10th chapter also that mentions
the same word that you’ve mentioned for
the weapons of our warfare are not of
the flesh but divinely powerful for the
destruction of fortresses or strongholds
listen for we are destroying
speculations and every lofty thing
raised up against the knowledge of God
and we are taking every thought captive
to the obedience of Christ
now when you attempted what do you do
you choose the cigarette why don’t you
decide that from now on I’m tempted I’m
going to choose the Word of God because
there’s a wonderful Psalm that I think
applies exactly that what you’re dealing
with and one that I think if you would
begin to think in terms of when I am
tempted to smoke I’m going to turn to
the Word of God and listen to what the
scripture says here’s the promise if you
will listen to Psalm 34 beginning in
verse 17 the righteous cry and the Lord
hears and delivers them out of all their
troubles the Lord is near to the
brokenhearted and saves those who are
crushed in spirit many are the
afflictions of the righteous but the
Lord delivers them out of them all there
is an awesome promise from God listen to
come to your rescue and to help you
through this here’s what you must
remember when you attempted to smoke
turn not to the cigarette but to God
turn to the word of God because one
offers life the Word of God and the
other offers something that could take
your life when you discover the real
cause and you willing to deal with it
you’re willing to deal with this cause
God will deliver you that is his promise
I witnessed as many times in the lives
of many people who’ve been through all
kinds of circumstances once they began
read the word of God and to believe the
truth of God’s promise to deliver them
something happens sometimes it may take
an accountability partner someone you
can share with and someone you can say
to them here’s what’s going on in my
life I don’t want this in my life I need
someone to pray with me through this
until I have the victory if you will
choose the Word of God and to trust him
believing with all of your heart God
will deliver you that’s who he is
we’re thankful you joined us for this
broadcast I’m in touch and until next
time remember this when you fight your
battles on your knees you win every time
god bless you