A question to converted Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

I have just decided to start having a bible study with your religion and attend the Sunday meetings.
I think deep down inside i have wanted to for a long time.The thing that has really held me back is , smoking , drinking & the idea of knocking on doors.
Please share with me your story of how you was able to change.
1 Smoking
2 Drinking
3 Over coming the fear of knocking on doors
Was it hard , easy , did you feel you had help Jehovah , or did you do it yourself ?
I ask because these issues are in front of me.

Do you feel rewarded for you effort ?

Thank you Vot.
We are all human and make mistakes , great story.
My first meeting tomorrow , as a genuinly interested person. Let's hope i don't embarrise myself.

What a lot of great answers , I don't know if i can pick a best answer , thank you too everyone.

Answer 1

You won't embarrass yourself at all :-) In fact, you will immediately feel a flowing of Love from the brothers and sisters as they welcome you sincerely into the hall :-)

I married out of the truth at just 18 years old and soon after disassociated myself from the witnesses (not baptized) and stayed away for almost 22 years. I made a really difficult life for myself during that time...marrying and divorcing twice, becoming an alcoholic, and celebrating all the pagan holidays. I hit rock bottem when I began doing "soft" drugs and felt suicidal....and even in my darkest moments, I still prayed to Jehovah for the great tribulation to come and end my pain. What I had been taught while being raised in the truth still stuck with me always.

I always took the literature from the witnesses during those years when they would come to the door. I always had really nice conversations with them and told them I was raised in the truth but not ready to come back...they always very friendly urged me not to wait too much longer and reminded me that I knew what to do when I was ready. Well, what happend just 3 1/2 years ago, was that I was waiting at a bus stop and a very warm and friendly sister approached me with the Watchtower which I took. I told her very briefly of my history so she invited me to the memorial that was happening the next week. She gave me her number and when I called her, she was so happy to hear I had the interest to come to the hall again after 22 years! During the memorial, I quickly felt right at home again and the love that was so evident filled me with a remembered peace :-) I started studying with that sister 2 years ago on a weekly basis and have sooooo enjoyed getting to learn the truth slowly so it absorbs in and I feel knowledgeable and confident in being able to share what I have learned with others :-) The love of Jehovah just makes you automatically WANT to do that.

I have not gone door to door yet as a publisher because I myself am still working on giving up smoking entirely. I have no problem not having cigarrettes with me during day long assemblies and such. But even though I long ago gave up my other habits (clean and sober now since 1991 - and at that time I did it for my 2nd husband and my children)....the addiction to smoking is something I struggle with and is holding me back from seriously thinking of baptism. I will continue my study and going to meetings, and sharing Jehovah's promise with others, and the more I do, I feel that giving up cigarettes will flow into my desired result :-)

Enjoy tomorrow's meeting!!!!

Answer 2

First off, maybe you should stop drinking and smoking even if you don't become a witness. But witnesses are allowed to drink. And it is a requirement to go door to door, which is nerve racking. There isn't a lot of advice I can give you on that, since it is a pretty hard thing to get over.

But before you jump into anything, I suggest exploring the other side, and not necissarily apostate stuff.

A good place to start would be the book "Crisis of Conscience" by Raymond Franz. Franz was part of the governing body, the ones who basically run the watchtower corporation. Contrary to what witnesses will tell you, the book is well written and does not bash the witnesses, its more of a clear history on the witnesses.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Answer 3

Wow, brings back memories. I was a smoker, 25+ years, and I loved to smoke...no wait, truthfully, I LOVED TO SMOKE!! There, that fits better, I began studying with Jehovah's Witnesses in the early 90's, but I couldn't give up the smokes. I knew what I was learning was the truth, no question about it. I quit celebrating God dishonoring holidays, got rid of all the icons around my home, etc. All the things you do when you learn the truth. I talked to everyone I knew about what I was learning as well. Anytime I tried to quit, something terribly stressful would happen and I'd be right back to smoking.

Long story short, I stayed around the truth for years, not advancing, but knowing. Then almost 5 years ago I had a heart attack, a major one. I fought hard to stay alive, especially since I was on the highway doing 70 mph! But even after, in the ambulance, I fought. Most women don't survive their first heart attack. Well, I did. That was it for me, smokes tried to kill, I learned they didn't love me back, but Jehovah did. I waited 6 months then began a new Bible study and was baptized 8 months later.

Drinking isn't a problem as long as it's in moderation and you have a balanced view of it. I enjoy a glass of wine almost daily. No big deal.

I still find it hard to go in service. I'm naturally quiet and on the shy side as a rule, but once you go out and begin to enjoy the company of your brothers and sisters, it gets better.

Answer 4

Like others, I didn't smoke and only drank a little.

Like others, the truth is easy to see when one looks.

Like others, going to someone's door is difficult. It is somewhat true that the hardest door to go to is your's. I find that true for myself. Once the door opens and you start talking, it is indeed a great joy.

Even finding folks like some that are on this site, is good.

Jehovah's witnesses are not out to convert people, we are out to obey God's commands. We are doing a separating work. Gladly, you have chosen to take the steps to enter the ark of salvation before the flood.

One other small bit. We all stumble many times. That is not the problem, stopping is the problem, falling and not getting up is the problem. Don't let what you might see as a set back stop you.

Answer 5

My husband is studying and he also smokes. His conductor doesn't even know he smokes b/c he's kept it so well hidden. I told him not to be ashamed. How can he get spiritual help if he's not honest. Besides - Jehovah knows all.

He's been praying about his habit. As a matter of fact, yesterday he met me at my office when it was time for me to leave work. He said he had good news and was bubbling all over. He said he only smoked one cigarette all day! Unfortunately, that didn't hold true for today, but it was a start.

Have faith in Jehovah and remember that He'll give you the power beyond what is normal. There is NOTHING that you can't conquer with His help.

Answer 6

Hi! I use to smoke a pack a day before I became a witness. I had been smoking for 12 years and LOVED my cigs. I was studying for 6 months before I even tried to quit, but when I did I quit cold turkey. The first few weeks are the hardest. Pray to Jehovah for strength and to hate even the smell of them. When it came to knocking on peoples doors I thought,"Yeah I'll study with you all, but I'm not going to knock on anybody's door." In time you will appreciate the example Jesus set for us. I've been doing that for 13 years now, not on my own strength but with God's help. These things take time don't worry too much about it. Just keep your study on a regular basis and you will see how things will fall into place with Jehovah's help.

Answer 7

DC i have one advantage over the other people who have answered , we met.
Don't jump the gun.
At the risk of upsetting some , don't worry about it.
Keep on smoking and drinking as you do now.
Just go to the meetings and study with the brothers , try to come to an accurate knowlege of the bible.As you learn you will understand and knowlege is a great tool.
Don't give up just to be a JW , learn why it is you should give up, from a bibical point of view ,with knowlege comes power.
The Jw's have a song , the words are , Draw close to Jehovah , make him your delight.
They are wise words .
Learn , become close to your God ,through pray , study & association and you will know what too do.
I have been through these things myself , i am not saying it's easy but if you follow the bibles teachings it's not as hard as you think.
Ask your self who want's you to give up because these things feel imposible to beat ?
Your first Sunday meeting is tomorrow and first study is next week.Just take one step at a time.
You can do it i know , you will soon be correcting me.
This is a great general question but if you have any questions please ask the brothers who study with you.
I am sure many who answer you are real JW's but the only ones you know for sure are the ones you study with and those you meet at your meetings.
I will only be here 1 more week then not untill easter holidays you have my number but before you ask me , please ask the brothers i intruduced you to first.
As far as feild service( knocking on doors) goes let's get yourself right before you think about helping others.
I have a lot of confidence in you.

Answer 8

Well, I never had a smoking or drinking problem. I was raised in a christian household. But this did not stop the fear of going door to door. It is now 22 years later and I still get butterflies when I go door to door. I preach from my heart but not on my own strength, I prepare, pray, and pray, and pray. It is a loving work that we do but not always easy. it is our love for Jehovah and the love for those we know are looking for the Truth. When we are in the ministry the Angles are with us.

Isa. 12:2 "Look God is my salvation I shall trust and be in no dread; for Jah Jehovah is my strenght and my might and he came to be the salvation of me."

Jehovah's people have come from all walks of life this is what the Bible say.

1Corth. 6:9-11 "What! do you not know that unrighteous person will not inherit God's kingdom? do not be mislead. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God's kingdom. And yet this is what some of you were. but you have been washed clean, but you have been santified, but you have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of God."

Pray to Jehovah for help he answers all sincere prayers. Please I beg you not to give up if you feel that you are having a hard time with these habits. they did not beocme a major problem over night nor will they go away over night. But with sincere prayer and honest effort to to quit you will succeed.

Answer 9

my late husband smoked for many years. he did alot of praying to Jehovah God to help him quit and he went cold turkey. I was so glad that he quit. drinking. even Jesus had a drink, there is nothing wrong with a drink now and then. many Jehovah Witnesses drink beer or have a drink now and then. it is the ones who get drunk. as far as knocking on the doors. we all say that. it is hard to go up to a door and not knowing who is at the other side of the door. many people are very nice, but sometimes we do get the rude ones. we just say what Jesus told us. dust the sandals off our feet and go on. in other words. say have a nice day and leave. we never ever go to the door alone, we always go with a brother or a sister and they will help you. I have been a Jehovah Witness since 1990 and I sometimes get scared at the door, I am so glad that I said a prayer to Jehovah before I go to any door. they always help us and even the brother or sister will be there also. so glad that you made the right choice. just remember, people will answer here and say we are a cult and brainwashed. we don't worship man, we worship Jehovah God and do what Jesus commanded us to do. there are alot of apostates on here. they turned there back on Jehovah and will slander us. be careful. also talk to the person who is studying with you and he will answer all your questions. my late husband and I had tons of questions. my late husband and I where married 35 years when he died in 2004. looking forward to seeing him in the new system

Answer 10

For those of you who have read my story time after time- sorry lol... here I go again. I'll try to keep it short. :)

I started smoking when I was about 12 years old. By the time I was around 17, I was smoking 4 packs of menthols every day. Before I was even introduced to the Witnesses, I knew smoking was a major hindrance in my drawing closer to God. I tried for years to quit but never could. By early 1999 I was studying with the Witnesses- when I wasn't busy hiding from them. By that time I was living with a man who was not my husband (said husband abandoned me and our 4 kids and moved several states away beforehand) and while I wasn't THEN a stripper, I was planning on opening up my own club and I would strip when club hopping now and then because I honestly enjoyed certain aspects of the job. I was about 25 years old and I was still smoking 4 packs a day. I also did whippets whenever I could (inhaling "laughing gas" from balloons). The guy I was living (my fiancee though I was still technically "married" to my ex) with is involved in flying RC planes and one event was in Las Vegas in the Fall of 2000 (we live in WV). I told myself "enough is enough", I was tired of feeling a chasm between me and God. So I symbolically "divorced" my cigarette habit. I went on the patch for a couple of weeks, then got of it all together. During the trip, I did a LOT of praying and even more sleeping. which is the only way I got through it- patch or no patch.
My fiancee and I stopped club hopping and I did independent research about the Witnesses. When he and I went on our yearly trip to Hawaii I finished the "Holy Spirit" book. I was plagued by bad dreams about "the end" and knew I could deny Jehovah no longer.
In February 2001, I got my fiancee and my four kids and his daughter going to the Kingdom Hall for every meeting.
And then I found out my finacee had been a Witness before we met but had disassociated himself lol. So it was an awkward time, but we pulled though with Jehovah's help.

Drinking... I've never had much of a problem with. One night when I was a stripper I did a couple lines of heroin (or so they said it was... it was my only experience). I sat at the bar in a brain dead state and my conscience spoke up to ask me: "How would you like to be like this for the rest of your life?" Meaning, if I kept it up I was going to STAY brain dead. That did it for me except for my smokes and whippets. I dumped all the drinks the customers bought me and I didn't touch the hard stuff ever again. I mean, I would drink occasionally, but never to the point of even getting CLOSE to becoming drunk.
Whippets are hard to come by (about a 3 hour drive), so quiting those wasn't hard but I still crave one every now and then.

Fear of preaching... that one is still a little hard for me. I suffer severe anxiety and the anxiety triggers a cataplexic state (I fall asleep). The only thing other than prayer and exposure is medication. I take Provigil to stay awake and Strattera and Lexapro for the anxiety itself.
Being well prepared helps and so does taking it slowly. Even nowadays I'll have some days where I can't bring myself to talk at the door, so I accompany someone else.
And it really does take lots of practice. The more you get out there, the easier it becomes.

But right now- focus on baby steps. Don't set yourself up for a fall. Make small goals then build your way up.
And congratulations for wanting to join the fold!

Agape,
April
[e-mail] Feel free to email me anytime.