I like to fast occasionally on Sunday. I feel closer to God as I prayer and reflect on His tender mercies while I fast. I wonder if sometimes we need a thought a fast: a fast from fearful, judgment, negative thinking.
What if for a day—or a week—we refused to think negatively about ourselves or others? What if we decided instead choose thoughts of faith, gratitude, hope, love, and mercy? What if we asked God to help us think thoughts that He would have us think?
What would a thought fast require? We would turn of the television when we see contentious or vulgar behavior. We would turn around or away from a conversation that includes gossip. We would replace destructive thoughts with positive ones.
Here are a few tips:
• Have an inspirational book to read, uplifting movie to watch, or friend to call when we are being attacked with negative thoughts.
• Spend time writing in a gratitude journal each day.
• Make your prayer life a more constant activity.
• Look for the beauty around you and celebrate it.
• Memorize some powerful scriptures that defeat the devil.
Here’s a good one:
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Here’s a shorter one:
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”
One of the most powerful tools Satan has is negative, discouraging, self-defeating thoughts. I invite you to join me this week and go on a thought fast. Let me know how it goes for you.
© Carol Brown
Sunday, July 19, 2009
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Once again, you have said the exact thing I needed to hear today. I think this is a great idea, especially pertaining to how we think of ourselves. It is so easy to ignore negative thoughts about ourselves when we allow them to become commonplace. Thanks for the challenge. I really enjoy your posts.
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