Breath of Life

Feedback from Graduates of Breath of Life.

Lois's Testimony

My mentor is Tonya. Before I started Setting Captives Free, God had been working on other areas of my life and I knew my 5-7 cigarettes a day habit was next. One day I was talking to God and we kind of agreed that if I got a productive cough I would quit smoking, because that would clear my lungs out of all the tar. Well, a couple of days later I, of course, got a productive cough - but I did not quit. I went to the doctor and got antibiotics instead. Of course, they did nothing for me and I went back again. They gave me stronger antibiotics and an inhaler, but it didn’t work. Finally, after a particularly scary spell of difficulty breathing I decided enough was enough and to quit for real. I had heard of Setting Captives Free before, but could not remember what it was called or the website address. I was talking to a friend on IM who mentioned the purity course and I knew it was the same site. I got the URL and came online. Quitting smoking cigarettes is really hard if you decide to quit and then fall again in the next few days. But, it’s kind of like Jesus, on the third day you rise again from the dead. Not that you never want a smoke again, or that its always three days exactly--but after the first few days, believe me, it gets easier if, and only if, your will is set against smoking right from the start. That’s how I found freedom. I knew it was God’s will for me to quit. I didn’t want to, but he kind of forced my hand. I had to quit in order to get better. He aligned my will with his through discipline, and then the joy of freedom followed. I don’t feel it was Setting Captives Free that set me free. It was God himself. He used this website to give me the weapons I needed to fight temptation--it is full of the word of God and words that strengthen resolve. A while after quitting, I was at the beach and smoke was wafting over and I wanted it. But, minutes later I was thanking God for my new lungs as I ran along the waterline. I still have a cough, but it is getting better. It has now been three months since my last cigarette. It is just a beginning of the areas in which God is trying to align my will with his. I think I had to quit in order to grow because when I smoked I had less control over my impulses in other ways, too. Now I’m learning that I CAN say no. Praise God. It is kind of like the woman caught in adultery. The Pharisees caught a woman in the act and dragged her in front of Jesus, citing the Mosaic law and asking Jesus if they should follow it and stone her. Jesus said to let him who is without sin throw the first stone. Everybody left except, of course, for Jesus. He then said, "Has no one condemned you? Neither do I. Go and leave your life of sin." I feel he’s done the same with me. I was caught in a sin, smoking. I was faced with the consequences of my sin: a small foretaste of a horrible death from lung problems. Jesus forgave. Then he said, Go and leave your sin. Lois

Michael's Testimony

I thank you, Lord, for freedom from bondage. I thank you, Lord that freedom is not free and that you paid the price for my freedom. I would like to also thank the good folks at Setting Captives Free for giving me a valuable tool and resource to keep my focus on the Lord. You see, my focus was not always on the Lord but on that green and white pack with the upside down swoosh mark on it. I defiled my body, smoking for most of my 20 years of naval service. Cigarettes were my idol, and I was blind to the fact that they controlled my daily life. Every thing I did was governed by having a cigarette. They ruled my life. But, one day God made me ashamed of my smoking habit and he told me from that day forward he was not and could fill me with the Holy Spirit if I continued to pollute my body. From that point, I relied on him to put the smoking lamp out forever and he gradually took away my desire for cigarettes. Thank you to God above, my mentor William Master, and Setting Captives Free for helping me today to stand and walk in the joy of the Lord free from smoking over the last 194 days. Michael

Lisa's Testimony

My story of bondage to smoking started when I was a junior in high school. I began smoking mainly to catch a "buzz" and look like I fit in with others. I continued smoking off an on for several years, using it as a tool of socialization and comfort. I work out on a regular basis and eat healthy food, so I was struggling with doing something to my body as terrible as smoking. I wanted to quit for good, but never felt I would be able to be completely free. Even when I started this course, I was doubtful. I had the mindset that I would at least try this for the 60 days, but figured I would probably break down somewhere along the way. I am now at the end of the 60 days, and haven't touched anything the whole time. Part way through the course, I was actually repulsed by the smell of cigarettes and I noticed how many people smoke and how much they depend on it. I wanted to depend on God, and knew this is not what he wanted for my life. I believe it was my trials that led me up to this course. I would cry for God to take the habit away, and the time came when He said I was ready to take this step. I knew it would be hard, but it was even harder than I thought - not necessarily with wanting to smoke again, but realizing the other areas of my life that need to change for a life with Christ. I have felt more clear-headed and really feel like I can depend on God when I have a problem. It is not easy, but I pray about whatever I can and just ask for his peace in me. I am more aware of my real emotions now and don't feel as if I am stuck in a cloud. The temptation passes; it just takes patience and understanding that freedom really is His plan and His deal for our lives. Lisa

Rhonda's Testimony

I want to begin by thanking my mentor, Tonya, for her commitment to me and to Setting Captives Free. She was so faithful to me, writing me nearly every day and very faithful to the word of God, gently but firmly keeping the truth of God foremost in her prayers and communication with me, no matter what I was going through over these past months. I believe I have been addicted to nicotine since I was very small because my parents used to smoke in the car. I started smoking on my own at the young age of 12. At the age of 22, I received Christ as my Lord and Savior and began the very long road to trying to quit smoking. Sometimes I would quit for years at a time, and then begin again. I would make excuses as to why I would smoke; I was under stress, I was on vacation, etc. and worse, I would take advantage of God’s grace by thinking that God should forgive me - after all, I was trying! A little over a year ago, I began to have a very dark fear over the fact that I was smoking. It was making me feel sick every morning, and I could sense the Lord urgently and forcefully calling me to quit. One day my husband said the Lord had told him to tell me to quit smoking and he felt serious regarding the matter. After 36 years of smoking, I knew I was hopelessly bound and could not stop smoking. I was so desperate I literally fell on my face before God and asked Him to set me free. My friend mentioned Setting Captives Free regarding the weight loss Bible study, and when I went to the website I saw they had a Bible study for captives to nicotine, as well. To make a great story short, the Lord completely delivered me around day 4 without even a withdrawal! Praise His power and mercy forever and ever. Since then, the beautiful biblical principles of "drinking from living water" and so many others continue to keep me safe from our enemy, as well as changing lots of other areas in my life so I might glorify the One I love, the Lord Jesus! I am so grateful my whole life has changed and I am happier every day. I am truly living now and enjoying the light He died to give me. His and yours, Rhonda

Chrissy's Testimony

I began smoking at age 16. Unfortunately, that wasn’t my only habitual sin. I realized through this course that smoking hardened my heart and spirit toward my Savior, Jesus Christ. Many times I turned away from Jesus, and went down my own path; a path that most often led to pain, suffering and torment. I was suffocating in my sin. I realize now just how lost I was. My conscience was seared, and I was so far away from a relationship with Christ. Lying became a common behavior. Judging others and being argumentative was commonplace. I was self-absorbed, and full of pride. I had tried two other times to quit smoking. On both attempts I failed miserablely and gained over thirty pounds. I disliked everything about who I was, and how I appeared. I was utterly alone, even in a marriage. Then God Almighty led me to Setting Captives Free. Through this course He opened my eyes to many truths. He taught me that He is Almighty, and fully able to free me from my habitual sin. He showed me that I was not an addict for life, but free because of the work Jesus completed on the cross. He taught me about true repentance; that is, looking at the cross while confessing my sin and then turning away from my sin. And perhaps the most important thing he taught me was humility. For the first time in my life, I understand how the Holy Spirit moves through me and others. My eyes have been opened, and I feel a very intimate relationship with Jesus. He is my comfort and all that I need. I am truly alive now. However, it took the death of my flesh to finally arrive at this truth. I did not bargain for all that I received. I only wanted to be free of guilt when I set out to quit smoking. What I have gained is true fellowship with my beloved Jesus. I am overwhelmed each day by the Love he shows me. I cry more tears of joy, and I smile more freely. He has thawed out my frozen heart and made me shine with His light. Now, I am fifty pounds lighter, and free of slavery of smoking. Great is our God! I want to thank my Mentor, Tonya, for her encouraging words and prayer. Tonya, you truly are my sister in Christ. Chrissy

Mary's Testimony

I married young, had two beautiful daughters, and by the time I was 28 years old, my husband wanted a divorce. This caught me by surprise, and needless to say, it changed my live radically. I thought I was a good person, a good wife, and a good mother and could not understand why this was happening to me. The despair of divorce and feeling sorry for myself led to a very hedonistic lifestyle. On weekends, I would leave my daughters with my mother and party all night long, drinking and smoking, along with loose moral behavior. It the middle of this emptiness and chaos, God found me. When I was 34, through hearing the preaching of the Word of God while visiting a church, I gave my life to Christ and truly repented of all my sins. I gave up the partying, the drinking and the loose behavior; I surrendered all, except the cigarettes. At this point in my life I was saved, but there was no distinguishable change in me. I was extremely angry with my ex-husband, which I thought had done something that was beyond forgiveness. I started attending church and sent my daughters to Christian school. And the years went by. From an outward appearance I was doing all the right things; I was attending church, going to Bible studies, tithing and behaving like a "good" Christian woman. On the outside I looked happy, but on the inside the anger grew and my addiction to nicotine grew even more. No one in church knew that I was a smoker because I would hide to smoke. I was a fraud, and I continued to feel empty. During this time, my spiritual life was barren. I knew there was no evidence of any the gifts of the Spirit in my life, but I honestly thought it was not my fault and eventually God would give one or two. I was in the wilderness, but I had gotten so used to it that I liked it there. But… through the cleansing power of the Word of God, I began to see that I wanted God to forgive me but I was unwilling to forgive others, and I had all this anger and hatred in my soul. Little by little the healing process began, and God mended my heart. I was able to let go of the anger and hate, and I was able to forgive my ex-husband. God blessed me immensely through the years. My daughters married godly men and are walking with the Lord. I have beautiful grandchildren and a wonderful church family, however the smoking continued. I deceived myself saying that smoking was not a sin, that I had the right to smoke, because smoking was my only comfort, my companion; however I did not understand why I felt so guilty, why was I was hiding and denying and lying about my smoking? My soul really felt very heavy until one day, in God’s perfect timing, I found Setting Captives Free and a few things happened. 1) I recognized that smoking is a sin – it is like idolatry. 2) I repented, confessed my sin, and brought it to the light for every one to see 3) I got rid of all cigarettes 4) Through prayers, with my accountability partners (my daughters), my mentor, Tonya Price, and the power of the Holy Spirit, God gave me victory over nicotine addition. Now I can shout from the mountaintop that I am free, I am keeping step with the Holy Spirit, and I have never been so joyful in my life. My life is fruitful, but most importantly, the fruit of self-control in manifested in me and even though I have been saved for many years, for the first time I am living a live that truly glorifies God. Mary

Melissa's Testimony

My mentor is Tanya. I began smoking at the age of 12. I had older siblings, and they would sneak out of the house to smoke and as a curious little one, I would follow them. I caught them one day, and told them I was going to tell mom and they said "Here just try a puff". So I did. Then they told me that if I told on them they would in turn tell on me. So from that day forward they took me with them when they went to smoke and I began smoking more to fit in at the beginning. I truly enjoyed smoking. I never dreamed of quitting until I was around the age of 28, when I began dating someone for the first time who was not a smoker. I used all the conventional worldly methods of quitting. It was hard and it lasted a little while each time I attempted it. Then when I was 30 years old, I got saved and the Lord began to convict me of my sin of smoking. But then again I attempted to quit by myself and fool myself that I was asking God to help me. I struggled for four years of smoking, quitting, smoking and the condemnation grew each time I tried to quit without first surrendering to God. Then one day I the found Setting Captives Free website and began the course with the attitude of what could I lose? Well, I lost a lot, but it has been worth it all. I lost smoking. I have been drinking of the living water since. The joy and the closeness that I have experienced since this sin has been eradicated from my life is unspeakable. Melissa