Giving up negativity is not the easiest thing in the world to do but you can when you have the tools and information available. Trevor Lund has been running international fasts from negativity since 2006. He shares in this message what it takes to live life above the negativity.

Listen to an excerpt:

Download audio file (negativityexcerpt.mp3)

Download Immediately at Expectancy Press

These are questions I need a lot more time to answer fully but let’s start with the basics right now. How are we to do everything we are to do? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Question:

I’ve been so caught up in my emotions recently, I haven’t noticed that God was busy encouraging me with his servants and I have been ignoring. I recently sort references to aid me to understand more about our unfailing God who loves us apart from our disgrace in the garden and his purpose, and realize that you have to understand the purpose you have in his reality.

There’s a lot I want to understand, learn and know.
1.What’s the correct and fulfilling way to fast.
2.What’s the correct way to pray.
3.How to effectively help others in there struggles?

That’s me today!

Pray blessing to all and have a blessed ay.

Answer:

Thanks so much for your email.

I find God is so much more concerned about relationship than rules. I do have tips for fasting I’ve found helpful I’ll post on RevTrev.com soon. I also thought I had posted on prayer but I guess they are in the works to.

When we understand the Father’s heart of God everything I can say about the disciplines we can do are understood more clearly. We’re not earning anything from God. To beg God for anything assumes we have more mercy than He does.

Yes we need to obey everything he has said, and that means we need to know what He has said. But it doesn’t mean we forget to listen to the Spirit tell us when it’s time to fast. It may mean we need to take more time to pray so we can have more time to listen.

I’ll be writing more about prayer and fasting in the coming months.

Oh yah, my advice to help you help others… let others see the beauty of God’s holiness in you. This is true holiness, not simply following a list of rules. Still, a simple prayer I pray in the moment is…”Lord, give me your words for your people.”

It all starts with our relationship with the Father.
It all needs to flow from our identity.

We can’t be concerned with rules and regulations but we do need to concern ourselves with live up to what we’ve already attained.

Hope that helps for now.

Blessings

~Trevor

“How do I fast effectively?”  is one of the questions from my readers. To see the other ones check them out.

Question:

What is the process of successful fasting? Some people take water and juice during fasting. Is it still fasting? Which is the best one to stop everything or to have some water and juice in it? How many times I have to pray (talk to God) during fasting? How can I become the Bible reader? How can I demand God’s promises?

Answer:

Elia,

One of the e-books I’m going to be writing is on fasting. It’s an incredible tool we need to know how to practice today.

There are a number of different kinds of fasts in the Bible. Daniel fasted by only drinking water and eating only things produced from seeds. There were total fasts and fasts in the evening. The thing that’s important to remember is that we can obey the rules we impose on ourselves without ever really pleasing God in the process.

Take a look at Isaiah 58. Religion without true obedience is worthless.

When you read the Bible, let the Bible read you. Spend time meditating on what you’ve read, don’t be set on reading through a schedule made by someone (I’ve made one myself, but I don’t come to God with a religious form.)

Finally, don’t ever try to demand God’s promises. You don’t have to. You’re a child of the King. Your Daddy is looking out for you. He tells you not to worry about what you eat or wear. What you need to learn to do is AGREE with God’s promises. What I mean by that is this: when your life doesn’t line up with the promises of God for you, change what you can so they do. Agree with God instead of your circumstance.

Let me know if you want me to expand more on any of this. I’m online to encourage, comfort and pray.

Blessings

Trevor

Life Above the Negativity – from 10 minutes a day

by Trevor Lund

Publisher: ImaginePublishing.com

Category: Religion : Christian Life – Inspirational

Release Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-897409-16-9

978-0-9812775-7-8 (e-book published by Expectancy Press)

Editions: Book, 5.5×8.5, 220 pages; e-book

Price: $18.99/book; $449.99/36 books; $2.99/e-book

What It’s All About:

As a follower of Christ, you can’t afford to have a thought that’s not God’s in your head. Is this possible?

It’s not without conscious effort and the power of the Holy Spirit. So why don’t you start your conscious effort by fasting from negativity?

We define negativity as “any thought, word or action that is contrary to the will of God expressed in Scripture.” Don’t worry – this book will help.

Here are some comments from people who have fasted from negativity:

“While I was fasting from negativity, my boss gave me a gift certificate for $100 for being the most positive person in the company.” (your results may vary)

“After the negativity fast my boss asked what my secret was for looking younger as I got older. I had to mention giving up negativity.” (your results may vary)

It’s a challenge too big not to die for, but the return on investment is well worth the risk. Let this book help you keep every thought, word and action in agreement with the Father’s.

Find out more at LifeAbovetheNegativity.com

Buy Now

Available at Expectancy Press

What People Are Saying:

Our lives move at such a fast pace that we don’t fully see the poor habits that have become a part of us.  Its only when we pause and reflect on living intentionally that we see ourselves clearly.  The Fast from Negativity will provide you with the tools you need to set healthy positive patterns in your life.  What you discover about yourself may surprise you!   Kevin Fricker – Lead Pastor: City Centre Church Edmonton AB Canada

It is good to see us being challenged to sincerely look at how we think, speak and live as Christians. In this book Trevor Lund touches on the “nitty-gritty” issues of how to develop our character to be more in line with what the Word of God says. Rodney W. Francis Founder/Director: The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry (New Zealand)

The church needs to wake up!  Trevor has done a magnificent job challenging every believer to be a positive believer. I heartily recommend the book. Wynne Lewis : former General Superintendent of the Elim Pentecostal Churches

Look Inside

About the Author

About the Author:

Trevor Lund is a Christian Speaker, Author and Lead Dreamer for Expectancy Ministries. He lives with his beautiful wife and kids in Edmonton Canada and blogs at RevTrev.com

Seeking the Lord is not a ritual. There’s so much more to seeking the Lord than praying longer, or louder or fasting. Even if we think, “seeking the Lord” means fasting or going through religious ceremonies, God tells us fasting is useless without doing what is right.

Isaiah 58:2-11 (NIV)

For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

If you think you can fear the Lord without doing what is right, you’re being religious.

If you think you can seek the Lord without doing what is right, you’re self-deceived.

Fearing the Lord and Seeking the Lord are almost used interchangeably in Scripture. They are different terms and used for different reasons, but the benefits of each overlap as do some of the ways to fear the lord and some of the ways to seek the Lord. The notable one for me in this discussion is that for both we do what’s right.

Remember the three conditions for getting the good God has for us:

• Fear the Lord
• Seek the Lord
• Do what’s right

So it’s time we examine what it is to “Do What’s Right”…

I have so much fun hearing people’s comments both about the book “Life Above the Negativity – from 10 minutes a day” and the 40 days of emails to help you live Life Above the Negativity that I ask if I can share them with others.

My favorite ones come from people who went through the first 40 Day Challenge. It was comments like these that made me realize I need to make it available to a wider audience:

“While I was fasting from negativity, my boss gave me a gift certificate for $100 for being the most positive person in the company.” (your results may vary)

“After the negativity fast my boss asked what my secret was for looking younger as I got older. I had to mention giving up negativity.” (your results may vary)

We receive a number from our as well. Here’s a few to whet your appetite. Check it out – there are some amazing tools there… oh yah forgot, I’ll tell you about the tools tomorrow.

“I was looking your website and I can say it has meant so much to me.” -Erasmus

“I can say this fast challenges me to embrace the Father’s Love for me.” -Gregory

“This fast has helped me to be who the Father calls me to be.” – Jacob

“I was watching your website and I can say it is perfect.” -Edna

I also had some people review the book for me and was so blessed by what they had to share:

Reviews

Our lives move at such a fast pace that we don’t fully see the poor habits that have become a part of us. Its only when we pause and reflect on living intentionally that we see ourselves clearly. The fast from negativity will provide you with the tools you need to set healthy positive patterns in your life. What you discover about yourself may surprise you!

As you commit to living intentionally over the next 40 days, you will learn essential truths that will forever change your life. The key to the success of the fast from negativity is dependent upon your commitment to apply its truths. Anticipate the next 40 days to be an incredible life-transforming journey.

Kevin Fricker
Lead Pastor
City Centre Church
Edmonton AB Canada
It is good to see us being challenged to sincerely look at how we think, speak and live as Christians. In this book Trevor Lund touches on the “nitty-gritty” issues of how to develop our character to be more in line with what the Word of God says. Negative habits are not as easy to break as we might think. I know, because I had to make changes in the way I thought about myself, to bring my confession more into line with what God says about me. If we don’t agree with the Word of God then we become the products of our own negative believing. And there are enough other people who can speak negative things about us without our having to add to it!

Three statements that especially stood out to me in this book are:

1. God’s ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. His thoughts towards us are always good, because He is good. Good is not something God does, good is who He is.
2. Many times a critical person is someone with the gift of discernment who doesn’t choose to operate in love.
3. Focus on what God has done and what He is doing. Take what He hasn’t done to Him in prayer. He’s there to comfort, but I’ve learned He really doesn’t seem to respond well to whining.

May you be blessed and challenged as you take in, and respond to, the challenge of this book. It will change your life in a positive way.

Sincerely in Christ,
Rodney W. Francis
Founder/Director: The Gospel Faith Messenger Ministry (New Zealand)
Web Page: www.gospel.org.nz

When Adam and Eve sinned, in the Garden, the devil injected mankind with a deadly virus of negativity. A new language was born: unbelief, doubt, fear, and all kinds of negative thinking. It bogged the Israelites down for 40 years in the desert, and ever since, has had catastrophic influence upon the church. The one thing above all others that caused Jesus to be angry with his disciples was, doubt.

You would have thought that the followers of Him who declared, “All things are possible for those who believe” would all be possibility thinkers. But where are these? In science laboratories, space exploration projects, medical breakthrough experiments. All dedicated to doing that which hitherto has not been possible.

The church needs to wake up!
Trevor has done a magnificent job challenging every believer to be a positive believer. I heartily recommend the book.

Wynne Lewis

So what are you waiting for? There are four ways you can let me help you give up negativity.

1. Come to RevTrev.com daily. I’m posting daily devotionals starting Feb 23… these will be achieved under the Life Above The Negativity category, just pick it out on the spinning sphere on the home page any time you want the encouragement.
2. Sign up for the 40 days of emails and have the devotionals delivered straight to your inbox.
3. Sign up for the weekly updates at RevTrev.com and you’ll be able to download the ebook “Life Above the Negativity – from 10 minutes a day” AND every Wednesday you’ll get an email with a synopsis of the past week’s posts (word of warning, I have changed some of the titles for the blog posts to make them more SEO.)
4. Purchase the book and go through it at your own pace. We have a great deal for bulk orders if you want to take your group or church through your own campaign.

I am so encouraged by the incredible response in the past few weeks. I know God is going to make a difference not only in attitudes, but also in situations. It’s not an easy road. My wife an I have already had ample opportunity to chose to be negative. But guess what? It’s fun when the accuser reminds you of your hopelessness, to remind him and yourself of your hope.

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)

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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).
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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.

We’ve previously discussed WHY we should seek the Lord. But I still haven’t gotten around to discussing how we can. As I mentioned earlier, “I guess I always thought it meant “pray longer” maybe even “pray louder”. Of course it meant to fast…”

But what does the Bible say about it. I know I’m ticking off some Bible scholars because I pull verses out of context and don’t discuss the nuances of the original language. In my defense, this is a blog, not a commentary. I do study the verses in their original context, to their original readers, keeping what the early church and later commentators taught in the forefront of my thought, and always looking through the lens of the cross.

So even though it looks like I’m proof-texting, I’m really not as much as some of you assume.

Where did that tirade come from? Oh yes, I’m about to show you how you can seek the Lord.

How to Seek the Lord

• Keep your tongue from evil, Turn from evil, Do good, Seek peace and pursue it (Psalms 34:12-16)
• Cast your cares upon the Lord (Psalm 55:22)
• Forsake evil ways and thoughts (Isaiah 55:6-7)
• Have clean hands, Pure heart, Don’t lift your soul to idols, Don’t swear by what is false (Isaiah 24:4-6)
• Serve God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind (1 Chronicles 28:9)
• Call upon God and pray to him (Jeremiah 29:12-14a)

This isn’t a definitive list, but I found there’s much more to seeking God than “praying louder and longer” or “fasting”. When we study about fasting, we see it’s not the act it’s the attitude that gets our Fathers attention (Isaiah 58).

Seeking God is about Living Life Above the Negativity. I’m organizing a 40 day fast over lent, but this can’t be an event, it needs to be a lifestyle. The 40 days is to help get us into the habit of seeking the Lord.

He will be found.