How many times have you prayed to God for deliverance from nicotine. How many times have you called his name down on your knees begging to remove the desire from your lips. This morning while working in my garden the thought came to me about willingness. God gives us a free will to choose. Some may say that God delivered them from nicotine but mind you they had to be willing first and then he steps in to take us through. Willingness is the key and he will direct your path.
Politics, religion, and answering the question, "do you think she's pretty?" to a woman are places I've learned never to go without expecting bad things to follow.
I'm taking a pass, but concur, we have free will and things always turn out better when we choose good over evil.
I like the way it was more or less put in the story "Where the red fern grows". God isn't there to just give you whatever you ask for....you at least need to meet him half way.
Yes, williness is one of mind set and positive thinking.
Willing and commited! "Let go and Let God"!
Honestly I prayed for the willingness too!! Lol. I had to get the "want to" want to quit to even get started. I never really got the "want to" in the sense of oh I'm SO happy - but I got the willingness. So many times it's not clear what God's will is for us in various decisions in our lives but this one is EASY! No question that our Creator wants us to quit smoking! It bothered me for so long that as a Christian I was still smoking. It didn't fit! Now at least in that one area I know I'm in my Father's Will. A very peaceful place to be.
it was last july. I have asthma, had a warrior dash quickly approaching and i didn't want to quit. but knew i had to. One day i sobbed and cried out for God to help me quit. that i couldn't do it myself this time. Two days later i caught the worst flu of my life! thats how i quit before. I couldn't even think of a smoke then. So instead of going back, i quit. But now I got swept in again by just having that one. But i know i can quit and i want to quit. Im slowly cutting back. Thanks for reading.
Free will is both a blessing and a curse, don't you think? It would be so much easier for someone to do the work for us....to zap us and make us better.
But then you lose the total satisfaction you get from doing something hard and succeeding! And the amazement you feel as you find yourself winning the battle. And the true joy you get from coming out the other side more lovely than ever!
I believe, Jackie, that God watches and smiles as we wobble through...gain confidence....and take those training wheels off.
Ok. Just an opinion :) And maybe not a great analogy. Lol....Jackie, thanks for the thought provoking blog!!