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Posted by Dion Todd December 2nd, 2021 4,366 Views 0 Comments
If therefore the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36 WEB.
I took one last draw and put the cigarette out. That was over twenty-five years ago and the last time I smoked. I grew up on a farm in the South and worked in tobacco. Everyone I knew smoked. Well, except for one pretty weird guy, and no one wanted to be like him. By the age of ten, I was smoking regularly, just like the rest of my family.
Years later, when I was smoking about three packs a day, the Lord suddenly took the desire to smoke away from me and gave me the desire to quit. It's not that smoking was a sin, but I was certainly in bondage to it, and I wanted to be free. Yet, I just couldn't seem to break its power until He helped me by changing my desire for it. Until then, I always went back.
The Lord delivered me from smoking, and I have never wanted another cigarette. They make me nauseous when I am around them and tend to give me a headache. He reversed my thought pattern and changed my desires. Something I had once thought great was now sickening to me. The Lord set me free.
So don't get too stressed out when you fail while trying to quit something. Instead of struggling with it in your own strength, pray for the Lord to remove your desire for it. Ask Him to set you free. Pray something like:
"Lord, I want to stop this. Please take this desire away from me, in the of Jesus Christ, I pray."
Then give it time. The Lord can set you free from any bondage if you are serious about it, and when He sets you free, you are free indeed.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray that You deliver me from the things that bind and control me. Please break the shackles off of me and sever the ropes that hold me captive. I want to be completely free of the bad things in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!
Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress
> You can subscribe to our daily devotional here <
Update .536: I added a new theme customization button to the top bar that allows you to tweak the colors and layout of the site! I also created some basic color choices with: Light, Dark, The Blues, Rose, Emerald, and Deep Purple. You can also change the look of the side bar or make it disappear altogether. 😱 There is a "Reset" button at the bottom to switch back to the default, so you cannot mess it up!
Comment from Nell Neathery
2 days ago
I like the white background!
Comment from Liesel aka lisa Wardle
2 days ago
Thank you Pastor for all of the hard work that you do, you're a true genius with so many God given creative powers using them to draw everyone to the Lord!!! May the Lord bless you and Sylvia abundantly and continue to meet all of your needs!!! 🙏
Comment from Lynn Brown
2 days ago
The blue color is beautiful! Thanks Pastor for your hard work! It's great that I can't mess it up either, Lol!
Comment from Paul Forti
2 days ago
I like playing with the buttons. Dion you are so smart. Have a blessed day!
Comment from Candy Laventure
2 days ago
Very nice. I like reading the devotional with the white background. It seems easier on my eyes. Thank you. 😀