Dear Readers, January 11th will mark the 17th anniversary when I was supernaturally delivered from a 32 year cigarette addiction that began when I was just 13 years old. I want to share this powerful testimony again of God’s unfailing love, grace and mercy toward all who will believe and receive…
I use to make New Year’s resolutions. I had several declarations tied up into one, which was to get free from ALL of my addictions.
So every December 31st I would vow to cut down, or quit, stop and change.
But I never made it past January 1st before I found myself lighting up a cig, or overeating, or buying Lotto tickets, or doing drugs.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? Or if you have a loved one caught up in addictions, I want to share some truths with you.
Now, some of you may be surprised at this, but I had already given my life to Christ several years earlier yet still struggled to get free from things of my past.
I was truly born again, I had met Jesus in the Spirit, and I knew my Heavenly Father intimately, but what I did not know is who I am now in Christ, and Christ living in me. I came from a strict religious background so I felt like I had to earn God’s favor and love. I believed that He loved me when I did good, but distanced Himself when I was bad, and I felt like I had failed Him.
Of course, this theology is ALL wrong!
See, I don’t believe that any person is an alcoholic, or drug addict, or smoker etc. These are just the things they are doing, yet it’s not who they are, or who God created us to be. (Jeremiah 29:11) This goes back to the truth that we are a spirit, we have a soul (mind/will/emotions) and we live in a body. (1 Thes. 5:23)
I do not have the space to go into all the details, but I will share what I can, and state some bold things here- but its the truth.
The root cause, the real reason we choose these destructive habits is because there is a void in our hearts where we need Jesus. When we are stressed, angry, sad, mad, hurt, in pain, or just maybe bored- our physical body/soul will reach out for comfort- a temporary fix for a permanent problem.
We are all born with a spiritual heart defect (spiritually disconnected from God), a deep void that we crave to be filled. (Romans 3:23)
Our soul needs God, but our flesh cannot comprehend the things of God, so it reaches out to physical things for temporary comfort, (including food/people/careers etc). (Gal. 5:17). (Even Christians can become prey to some form of addictive strongholds if we do not keep filling ourselves steadfast in the word of God. Jesus said in John 15:4, “… abide in Me and I will abide in you.”)
Also, when traumatic things happen, or during stressful situations, and we are dealing with grief, or fear, our soul cries out for help, love, comfort and peace.
Satan wants to be worshiped like God so he presents false imitations of God’s love to us to prevent us from seeking the Lord, and simultaneously – steal, kill and destroy our lives and the lives of those around us. (John 10:10; Matt: 4:8–10). God has a good plan for each of our lives and the Devil wants to steal God’s word, and God’s promises for good things in our lives because, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17
The Bible also declares that “how a person thinks in their heart so are they.” Proverbs 23:7
In my heart I thought I was a drug addict, smoker etc. But I was not in my right mind. I was under demonic strongholds. You must understand that you are not battling against flesh and blood. It’s not hereditary, it’s not in your DNA. (But it is a scientific truth that our habitual choices – whether good or bad- can actual change our brain patterns, again Prov. 23:7 declares this truth. Neurologist Dr. Carolyn Leaf has done extensive studies in this field, I highly suggest her as a reference for this point.)
As for generational curses of addiction, I do not see any scriptural references in the New Testament that supports this. But in any case, Jesus became accursed for us! Gal. 3:13.)
So, for several years I went around the same mountains, and doing the same things yet expecting different results. That is a sign of insanity.
But when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit (with the evidence of speaking in tongues), the word of God opened up to me. I began reading/studying the New Testament, finding out about God’s grace and His unconditional love for me. This knowledge of the truth that I was learning in my mind, got planted into my heart. For the first time I began seeing myself differently in my heart.
For example, in the area of smoking, and this is very important, I took the addiction to the Lord. It was like being bullied for years (under condemnation from the Devil), but finally telling on the bully. I had enough! I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. (As it turned out, Jesus has already freed us, but this verse is so true …. “my people perish for lack of knowledge.” Hosea 4:6
Now, at this point I did not love smoking anymore, even though my body craved it, and my soul had relied on it. But when I finally stopped trying to quit or cut down, and really gave it over to the Lord, a shift happened in the spiritual realm. I remember telling Him, “Heavenly Father, You know I smoke, and I know You love me no matter what because of my faith in Jesus, but I don’t want to do this anymore. I still like to smoke, but I don’t love it anymore. Thank you for helping me.”
At that moment I “submitted to God” and began “resisting (actively fighting against) the devil, therefore the devil had to flee from me.” James 4:7 He had to vacate the premises- my body- the temple of God. But how do you evict a tenant who has been living in a place for over 32 years?
Well, for example, as I read the New Testament, and believed that Jesus had already set all mankind free over 2,000 years ago I began thinking and talking like a free person. By faith in His promises, “I began calling those things that are not, as though they are.” (Romans 4:17)
Even while I smoked, I would read out loud between puffs as Proverbs 18:21 declares that “death and life are in the power of our tongue, and those who love it will eat the fruit thereof.”
Even as I lit up a cigarette I would open my bible and declare, “I am a born again child of God. I am a non-smoker. I curse the root of addiction and nicotine to death in my body in Jesus name. I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus! Old things HAVE passed away and all things have become new …”
Even as I bought another pack of cigarettes, even as my lungs had coughing fits and I could barely breath, (32 years at a 1 & 1/2 packs a day does a lot of damage in a body). I took hold of these truths in my heart and began to see myself as a non-smoker, instead of what I was experiencing in the physical realm.
And within a few months, on January 11, 2009, I literally felt the very root of that addiction being supernaturally plucked from my heart. For the first time since I was 13 years old, I no longer had any desire whatsoever to smoke. Instantly, the cough was gone, my raspy voice was clear, my lungs were clear! I could take a deep breath without having a coughing fit. Energy returned to my body! I have never thought about them again, as if it never happened.
The Lord restored me back to that moment before I ever smoked that first cigarette at 13 years old. Praise God!!!!
Now, all that is left from those years of bondage … are the ashes in my Bible.
What the Lord did for me, He has already done for you. He is no respecter of persons. (Romans 2:11-13) That mean’s He does not play favorites.
Jesus paid the sin debt for all – so that whoever believes and receives the good news, can walk in freedom! Spirit, soul and body! Here on this earth!
I believe the Lord is speaking to many of you reading this column right now, and He wants you to know these truths so that you can walk in that same freedom.
I want to pray for you and just open your heart and receive, “Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, and His blood that has paid our sin debt and won our freedom from the works of darkness and all power of the enemy. Right now with the authority given me in Christ Jesus, I bind every spirit of addiction- drugs, tobacco, pornography, food, gambling, alcohol and every other form of bondage and command you to loose every person now reading this column, and I forbid you from operating in their lives! I cancel ALL the weapons/plans of the enemy in their lives and declare that their minds are free and clear to receive this revelation knowledge in the word of God. I release healing, deliverance, restoration and abundant life in every receptive heart right now in Jesus name. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty and I declare this truth flowing into every person and family that this word of the Lord is touching today. I believe this truth will effect generations to come and testimonies of the goodness of God will begin to pour in. Thank you Heavenly Father for Your faithfulness to Your word.”
Just believe and receive this word for yourself, or a loved one today in Jesus might name!
Happy New Year!
Happy New you in Christ Jesus!
Contact Brenda Groves at: bkgroves1996@yahoo.com
