Altar Call and Freed From Tobacco

One Sunday later, for some reason around the middle of the day, I thought about not being a church goer and then the thought came to me, “That’s the devil trying to keep you out of church!,” so I decided to go to the evening service. At the end of the service, Pastor Rocco made his altar call, and something drew me

forward! At the altar, he looked at me and said, “You’re Saved Sister.... what are you

doing up here?” I said, “My feets started walking this way and I just followed ‘em up

here!” (That just popped out of my mouth - literally!!) Then half of the Church came

to the altar, all laying hands on me and I gave my life to the Lord before the whole

congregation. Pastor asked if I needed anything else while I was there, and I said, “Yes,

I would like to quit smoking cigarettes.” And he said a powerful Prayer over me.... and

when I went home that night, I still had a half pack of cigarettes and a whole unopened

carton of marlboro light 100’s in the freezer... I thought, “ahh I’ll just finish these up

and then quit...” then the thought hit me “NO! I gotta show God that I am SERIOUS!

That I REALLY want to quit!!” so I took all those cigarettes and chucked them in the trash.

The next morning when I woke up, the urge for smoking was GONE. I mean, they literally ruled my life - from the first thing in the morning till the last thing at night, I would reach for a cigarette even before I put my eyeglasses on... I would smoke one on the way to the mailbox, during lunch break, before a meal, after a meal, I always had them with me, like a filthy ball and chain... and to wake up WITHOUT a cigarette jones was so wonderful!!!!  I was Free! I was FREE!! I was really FREE OF CIGARETTES!!!!!!!

It has been a little over 14 years since that happened; and I have NOT had even the teeniest urge for a smoke. My husband still smokes, and I am exposed to it daily through his habit. Only GOD could take that off of me and keep me from temptation like that!!! Of course, now that I don’t smoke anymore, his smoking irritates my eyes and lungs, so to compensate, we purchased two Ionic Breeze air purifiers. I am AMAZED at how fast they get all gunked up - because he doesn’t smoke very much, just in the evenings... and not many at that. I can only imagine what my lungs used to look like! Thank You Father God!!!!!! Thank You Dear Lord Jesus!!!!!! Thank You Holy Spirit!!!!!!, for delivering me from that nasty, harmful and expensive habit!!

UPDATE: My Husband had open heart surgery; and was warned not to smoke. He is okay now; and has since quit (he says “temporarily - he will take it back up again when he turns 80”). i Thank The Lord that i no longer have to deal with smelling that stinky pollution.

next - Sealed in the Spirit

Pastor Frank Rocco