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- A RELIEF FROM THE BONDAGE OF SMOKING AND DRINKING
“Praise the Lord ....!
I hail from Bangalore (Karnataka State) and presently settled in New Delhi since 1974. As any other Christian, I also used to attend, as usual, Sunday Mass regularly and on Christmas Season and Holy Weeks, fulfilling the required obligations of an X-ian.
When I reached Mumbai in 1971 on transfer of job, as a matter of social obligations, I took up smoking and drinking. Day by day it increased and it continued for almost 30 years – from a Peg to a Bottle of alcohol and a puff of smoke to about 80 to 100 (King-size) cigarettes a day. Many times I tried to get rid of these habits by way of Birthday/New Year resolutions but to no avail. In 1998 August, while returning from Saudi Arabia (where I was working), for personal reasons, I landed in Mumbai instead of my usual destination New Delhi. I had never attended any religious Retreats in my life and had never heard of any Divine Ashrams or Centers viz., Tabor or Potta. GOD chose me to save me and help me! Although I am from Karnataka I had never been to Kerala.
As could be seen from the Scripture - Jeremiah 29:11-13 “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for”. The Word of God is ‘Alive’ and ‘Active’. GOD promises to rescue His people as in Isaiah 43:1 – “Do not be afraid – I will save you. I have called you by name – you are mine (I will bring my people home)”.
God’s Assurance as in Isaiah 41:9-10 “I brought you from the ends of the earth; I called you from its farthest corners and said to you ‘You are my servant’, I did not reject you, but chose you. Do not be afraid – I am with you!”
All these became true in my real life. Lord Jesus took me to Tabor Ashram for a 3-day Retreat from 9-12 August, 1998. The thought-provoking preachings by the renowned priests like Fr. Mathew Elavumkal, Fr. Martin Kalamparambil followed by the interesting sessions such as, Confessions, Counseling, Anointment (Infilling of the Holy Spirit) led to my transformation. I was grossly involved in the deliberations of the Retreat with much anxiety and curiosity. On the second day of the Retreat itself, Fr. Martin announced the Message from God saying “some of you are deciding to leave smoking and drinking while some have already decided”. When he asked the gathering to testify for the former part of the announcement, a few hands went up. To my utter surprise and astonishment, my hand went up with a few others for the latter part of the announcement i.e., those who have already decided to leave…! That is it; the bondage in me left me on the spot once and for all. When you receive the HOLY SPIRIT the EVIL SPIRIT will vanish! From 10.8.1998 till date, I have not touched these two great items (I will be celebrating my 17th Anniversary of my personal independence – relief from the so called bondage – on 10th of August 2015). This transformation is a Miracle in itself, especially in my case just because, in spite of my smoking and drinking habits for long 30 years, there has been no symptom of any adverse effect on my physical health of sufferings/problems of any sort. PRAISE THE LORD! During this Retreat, I also received many graces, healings including gift of praying in tongues. On the last day of the retreat, Fr. Martin announced that GOD is calling 7 names, out of which one was mine, saying that “LORD JESUS IS CALLING 7 NAMES TO SERVE HIM”. Immediately a moment later, he announced that God is giving those seven people three graces too viz., HEALING THE SICK, CASTING OUT DEMONS, and PERFORM MIRACLES. (I am sure that I shall be able to accomplish those graces in the days to come, with the help of your prayers. I seek your prayers – do pray for me to pray for you!)
This transformation has made me a new person – giving me a new life. Such transformation changes our old nature and we receive a new one. Old things pass away and all things become new in Christ. We receive a new heart, new desires, new ideas and a new direction because of this new nature.
Many friends, near and dear ones asked me after this great transformation, whether at any time, I get temptations especially towards smoking or drinking! Believe me; I have never faced any temptations to fall back into the old nature. This is nothing but God’s power – strength that He gives us to overcome every such temptation.
In leisure time/holidays, I used to spend much of the time smoking and drinking. For instance, if I am at Bangalore or Mumbai on vacation, I used to spend much of my time in the Bars or with friends. During my stay in Mumbai just after transformation, for about 3 months, I started spending time with God. From my sister’s place at Vashi, I used to daily go to the Vincentian Ashram, Chembur and spend time from 11 a.m. till 5 p.m. in prayers and specially participate in the Divine Mercy Chaplet followed by Holy Mass. I used to go to Tabor Ashram to participate on First Friday Services with fasting and attended Preaching the Word of God and Healing Services all Saturdays and Sundays.
After I came back to Delhi in November, 1998 as a transformed person, and got a very good job (within a fortnight) and many graces, peace of mind and so on. By watching me and by listening to my experiences, a few people did get rid of the evil habits of smoking or drinking. THANKS BE TO GOD! Nowadays, I have made it a habit to pray for others. (To accomplish this, I have been, for the past 16 years, attending every Sunday service and Night Vigils on every first Saturday of the month at the Divine Retreat Ashram, Faridabad. Nowadays, I have been regularly attending the Hindi Night Vigils on first Saturdays and English Night Vigil services on the second Saturdays of every month at Faridabad apart from the English Night Vigil services and Konkani Residential Retreats conducted at the Jeevan Jyoti Ashram at Burari, specially to offer my prayers for others.
Also, whenever I visit Mumbai, I make it a point to attend One day prayer service or English Retreat at Tabor Ashram and every time visit Bangalore/Mangalore, I go to Potta (Muringoor) and attend the English Retreats. It gives me immense pleasure whenever people ask me to pray for them. Of course, Jesus has listened/has been listening to my prayers favourably resolving their problems whether it is related to healings or lost items or favours and so on.
Recently, the biggest Gift that the Lord gave me was by making my dream come true, by taking me to His Holy Land. I visited the Holy Land with the Group in the month of May 2011 for a week. It was a wonderful experience.
One more gift towards personal spiritual growth is that I attended “AN INTRODUCTORY COURSE IN BIBLE, conducted from 26th May 2013 to 11th July 2013” by the Divine Bible College, Muringoor, Chalakudy, Kerala.
God will surely keep up His words/promises and help, as is evident from John 7:37:38 – “WHOEVER IS THIRSTY SHOULD COME TO ME AND DRINK, WHOEVER BELIEVES IN ME, STREAMS OF LIFE GIVING WATER WILL FLOW FROM WITHIN HIM”
I conclude by quoting the Scripture that clearly declares (in Acts 16:31): “BELIEVE IN THE LORD JESUS AND YOU WILL BE SAVED – YOU AND YOUR FAMILY”.
THANK YOU JESUS, PRAISE YOU JESUS, HALLELUJAH...!
JOHN D’SOUZA
21-B, Pocket ‘B’
Mayur Vihar, Phase-II
NEW DELHI-110091
(email id:
(My testimony had been published in the DIVINE TRUTH magazine in English (year 2005) and in Hindi and Malayalam languages in 2007 by Divine Retreat Ashram, Faridabad)
(17th Anniversary of personal independence – on 10th of August 2015).
From Fr. Franklin D’Souza;
I endorse this testimony is true. I know John from last 11 years. He is a real witness for Christ in his Catholic Faith.
