I did a little media package last year that got me on a few radio stations. For that media package I came up with a tip sheet for fasting from negativity. Here’s the top eight…
Before I get to those, I should say a “thank you” to those who let me know about the ugly 404 message they got when they tried signing up for the 40 days of emails that help you live Life Above the Negativity. (You know you’re fasting from negativity when everything that shouldn’t go wrong, goes wrong.) I was able to troubleshoot the problem and my email notifier hasn’t stopped beeping, telling me people are signing up once more. It’s great, but I do need to finish up Sunday’s sermon today so I may just check the email again tonight. Sign up if you haven’t. It’s never too late to give up the thoughts that will kill you.
Top 8 Tips For Fasting From Negativity
(in no particular order)
- Forgive, forgive, forgive. Seventy-six percent of all statistics are made up on the spot, and this is one of them – 85% of the problems followers of Christ have can be traced back to forgiveness. Know you’re forgiven. Know how to forgive others. Know how to ask forgiveness of others. Forgive, forgive, forgive.
- Choose joy. Good moods are contagious. Smile and say hello to everyone you meet. Look to what God is doing, not to what He hasn’t yet done. Praise Him before the battle is won. Give an authentic compliment to three people every day.
- Live unoffended with the Father. There are times in each of our lives when are circumstance, through no fault of our own, do not agree with the promises the Father have made to us. You really can’t forgive God, you need to choose to live unoffended at Him. He’s the potter, you’re the clay. His plans for you are for a hope and a future. Trust Him, He’s good.
- Know how to worry. Worry isn’t negative when instead of thinking over, and over, and over again about a problem, we think over and over and over about a truth in scripture. If you can worry, you know how to meditate – find a promise of the Father’s goodness and “worry” over it (meditate on it).
- Pray the Psalms. Two-thirds of the Psalms are psalms of lament. The Father has given us a language to pour any complaint out to Him. When you need encouragement, start reading anywhere in the Psalms and read until you get to one that speaks your heart. Then camp out there for a while. Do this in private, and don’t forget to turn your complaints to praise.
- Stop the negative self-talk. Don’t agree with the lies spoken over you. Put an elastic around your wrist and pull it every time you tell yourself “You’re stupid”, “You’re no good”, or the like. In your quiet time, ask the Father to take you to the first time that lie was spoken over you. See it in your mind. See the Son there and ask Him what He thinks about those words. Ask for forgiveness for agreeing with those lies and replace those lies with the truth the Son tells you.
- Give up gossip. If you’re not part of the solution, or part of the problem and you talk about a situation – you’re gossiping. Don’t give out the juicy details as a “prayer request”. Stop speculating as to “how things got this bad”. You know that band you’ve been wearing on your wrist? Pull it every time you’re tempted to gossip. Gossip is not becoming for who and whose you are.
- Listen to the Father’s voice. Take time daily to “shut-up and listen”. Cease striving and wait for the Father to speak. He is always communicating, you know… the only time the teacher is silent is when the test is on.
There is much more encouragement in the daily emails you get when you sign up at LifeAbovetheNegativity.com
Do you have Tips for Fasting from Negativity? Love you have your comments.
When I fast from something, I plan to take it back up after the fast is over. I have no interest in fasting from negativity. That quibble aside, you have eight great suggestions for conquering it. You could write a long post on any one of them–or write another if you already have–but having eight short bullet points with practical suggestions is very helpful. I’ll have to print this and put it where I can find it over and over.
Thanks David. I know too many followers of Christ who need to know they can get rid of a lot of the garbage they think is just part of the journey. A fast is an easier transition than me just condemning them. I can’t because anyway, because Christ didn’t. He provided the way to become more and more like Him, and He was the exact representation of the Father.
We’re having amazing stories being set to us by people who are giving up every thought, word and action contrary to the will of God as expressed in Scripture. I love doing these fasts.