What I learned when God allowed me to repent from abusing alcohol & smoking

[Marston]

11 hours ago, Frits said:

Br. @Marston,

You have repented of your sins to the Lord Jesus Christ, He is the true God. You believe in Him, He is your Savior, He loves you and He has shown you that through freedom, in a life delivered from addiction.

Your battle against the devil of alcohol has been turned over to the Lord Jesus Christ, and that is exactly what is needed, He cares for you. (1Peter 5:7) He takes care of you, and nothing can snatch you out of His hand! Yes indeed, we believers have sought protection in the Mighty God, Jesus Christ, we worship Him! Hallelujah!

Yes, all praise to Dad! 

[AnOrangeCat]

On 1/27/2025 at 4:17 PM, Marston said:

I've come to theorize that, in my youth, I made the choice to abuse alcohol and I think God said to me "You made your bed and now you're going to stay in it for a LONG time".  

A couple of times I've been tempted to pick up the bottle again but I know that, if I do, God won't save me from myself again. I will not betray God's gift to me. No way! 

One day I came across a verse that mentioned God granting repentance. I did more research with an online Bible search and discovered similar verses. I guess I've come to believe that God sometimes gives us over to our unhealthy desires and that repentance isn't possible until God decides we're ready.  

Do you believe that might be true?

I'm late to this particular discussion, but I very much agree. It's the sort of thing that happened to Israel repeatedly in OT times. There's a very curious possible example in the New Testament that I think about and wonder over. In I Corinthians 5 Paul mentions a guy who was involved in incest. He took the time to mention that it was sinful even by pagan standards and told the church to shun him and those like him. But curiously, in 5:5 he said to hand the man over to Satan for the destruction of his flesh that his spirit might be saved.

i find there to be multiple points of interest and implications to this incident, but one of them is certainly that God lets us make our own mistakes and if need be, feel the consequences of said mistakes.

[D. Adrien]

On 1/27/2025 at 5:17 PM, Marston said:

 That was the weekend after Thanksgiving, 2023. I haven't had a drop or a smoke since. 

I find this interesting because for me it was the day after Thanksgiving 2000! I too was a functional abuser of various mind numbing substances.

[Dennis1209]

On 1/27/2025 at 4:17 PM, Marston said:

I was an active, functional, alcoholic for decades. I used to cry in my pillow and beg God to give me the strength to stop, but apparently to no avail as I continued for years.

In November of 2023 my elderly mother suffered a stroke and required significant care from my wife and I. However, I continued to drink. But soon thereafter I woke up one day and had no more desire to drink or smoke. That was the weekend after Thanksgiving, 2023. I haven't had a drop or a smoke since. 

People have congratulated me but I have always corrected them quickly and told them it wasn't me, it was God. God allowed me to change. 

I've come to theorize that, in my youth, I made the choice to abuse alcohol and I think God said to me "You made your bed and now you're going to stay in it for a LONG time".  

A couple of times I've been tempted to pick up the bottle again but I know that, if I do, God won't save me from myself again. I will not betray God's gift to me. No way! 

One day I came across a verse that mentioned God granting repentance. I did more research with an online Bible search and discovered similar verses. I guess I've come to believe that God sometimes gives us over to our unhealthy desires and that repentance isn't possible until God decides we're ready.  

Do you believe that might be true?

Here are verses pertaining to God and repentance. 

Acts 5:31

Verse Concepts

He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

 

Acts 11:18

Verse Concepts

When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”

 

2 Timothy 2:25

Verse Concepts

with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

 

Romans 2:4

Verse Concepts

Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

 

2 Peter 3:9

Verse Concepts

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Reading your testimony, I thought WOW, that is much like mine. For decades, I, too, was a functioning alcoholic, which negatively impacted every aspect of my life. How does the Holy Spirit speak to us and convict us? I suspect everyone is dealt with differently, as we are all unique individuals.

For better lack of a term, I had a unique conversion experience. If you are interested in how the Holy Spirit worked in my life over the decades, it can be found in the link below. Be warned that it is a long read:

My Testimony - Testimonies - Worthy Christian Forums