TWENTY ONE DAY

Negativity fast

Negativity is a thief that robs us of joy, creativity, wonder, and purpose. Negativity is contrary to the nature of Christ in us. Science also proves that negativity has very unhealthy effects on our bodies causing sickness and weariness amongst other things. This is not God’s intention for your life. His intention is for us all to believe the best in others, to be full of hope for the future, full of joy, and to live with purpose.

3 John 1:2 says “Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

Sometimes in certain seasons we need to engage in spiritual disciplines to move forward and break things off our lives. Sometimes we aren’t even aware that we are negative or have a negative view on life.

Over the next 21 days we encourage you to engage in a fast of negativity.

Fasting is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines of all the Christian disciplines. It is a way to align our hearts with the psalmist, “My soul thirsts for God, the living God” Psalm 42:2.

It’s a means of God’s grace to strengthen and sharpen our Godward affections.

David Mathis

Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life.

Introduction

So we encourage you to be intentional over the next 21 days to fast negativity in every area of your life. Keep yourself accountable and encourage others in your life (spouse, children, Life Group, and co-workers) to help keep you accountable.

Here at Awaken one of our Living Breathing Values is ‘To Think Well’. A living breathing value, is something we are intentional about growing in and pursuing, because we know that our lives are to be a sign of God’s goodness, not just a sign-post.

We are living, breathing demonstrations of God’s goodness, love, mercy, and grace.

Thinking well means that we are able to believe the best in people, have unwavering trust in Jesus in all circumstances, and become dealers in hope.

It’s the goodness of God that releases us to THINK WELL. You may ask why or how? In Romans 2 Paul writes that it’s the good-ness of God that leads to repentance.

The word Repentance or Metanoia in the Greek was used in early Christian writings to express a fundamental change in thinking that leads to a fundamental change in behaviour and/or way of living. Repentance is coming out of agreement with the lies we have believed and coming into agreement with the truth of God’s word, who He says He is, and who He says you are in Him.

There is an old saying ‘The truth hurts.’ But the reality is the truth only hurts once, the lies we believe hurt every time we remem-ber them. Lies rob us of our purpose, hope, destiny, joy, the list goes on… but Jesus said “The truth will set you free!”

Our prayer is that as we journey through this 21 day Negativity Fast that you will experience transformation through the renewing and aligning of your mind to God’s truth of who He is and who He says you are in Him.

Blessings,Michael and Ally

God is always good DAY ONE

What are you thinking?

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.

AW Tozer

What is your view of God? What is your perspective or picture of God as the Good Father? Do you relate to Jesus as a loving and caring companion? Is the Holy Spirit your daily counsellor, comforter and teacher?

Our view or perspective of God radically affects how we relate to Him. It also radically affects how we view ourselves and how we demonstrate Him to those around us.

We will only represent our own image of God to those around us. Therefore if our lives don’t represent the true nature and character of God, it will often point to misunderstandings or misconceptions of who God really is.

TRUTH PASSAGES

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his

purpose for them.Romans 8:28

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like

shifting shadows.James 1:17

REPENTANCE PRAYERFather I repent of not representing Your nature well. I ask You to reveal the truth of who You are into the depths of my heart. I want to know Your true nature. I believe in You, I trust You, You are my good Father who loves me deeply and unconditionally.

God is always good DAY TWO

For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through a true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own

glory and excellence.2 Peter 1:3

Knowing, experiencing, and living in God’s goodness on a daily basis is God’s desire for us. Our lack of this reality is never from God’s side of the equation. God NEVER withholds from you, He never punishes you. His heart is always towards you, eagerly awaiting your presence, eagerly anticipating your intimacy, eagerly searching for your pursuit of Him.

“That's an interesting phrase, isn't it? Catching Him. Really, it's an im-possible phrase. We can no more catch Him than the east can catch the west; they're too far removed from each other. It's like playing chase with my daughter. Often as she arrives home from a day of

school, we play this little game that countless fathers and children play around the world. When she comes and tries to catch me, even with my hulking frame, I really don't have to run. I just artfully dodge this

way and then that, and she can't even touch me, because a six-year-old can't catch an adult. But that's not really the purpose of the game, be-cause a few minutes into it, she laughingly says, "Oh daddy," and it's at that moment that she captures my heart, if not my presence or body. And then I turn and she's no longer chasing me, but I'm chasing her, and I catch her and we tumble in the grass with hugs and kisses. The

pursuer becomes the pursued. So can we catch Him? Not really, but we can catch His heart. David did. And if we catch His heart, then He turns and chases us. That's the beauty of being a God chaser. You're chasing

the impossible, knowing it's possible.”Tommy Tenney, God Chasers: My Soul Follows Hard After Thee

Paul put it this way, “I chase after that I may catch that which has apprehended me.” Phil. 3:12

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of believing that my lack is because You are with-holding from me. I turn from that way of thinking and declare that You have given me everything I need for a dynamic spiritual life. I ask for You to continue to reveal Yourself to me, as I pursue You.

To have found Godand still to pursue Him

is the soul’s

Paradox of loveA.W. TOZER

God is always good DAY THREE

God’s nature is now in you

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Some may say, “Well I’m just a naturally negative or pessimistic person” or “My culture is often negative”.

The truth is whatever our culture is, it must bow the knee to the culture and nature of the Kingdom. The truth is that we are now a new creation; God has given us a whole new nature. Our old nature is gone and we are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. This means that our new nature is that of Jesus, and through the Holy Spirit we now have the characteristics and nature of God.

We are now empowered to live in the ‘opposite spirit’ to our old way of thinking, living, and acting. We are no longer slaves to our old mindsets, emotions, hurts, and pains. We are now filled with the Fruit of the Spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, good-ness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

God fills us with His GOOD nature, so that we can then give out what has been freely given to us.

Freely you have received; freely give.Matthew 20:8

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of allowing my emotions to control the way I live. I repent of excusing my behaviour and coming into agreement with thinking that doesn’t align with Your Kingdom and Your nature. I ask for You to continually fill me with Your Spirit, so I can live a life that overflows who You are.

God is always good DAY FOUR

Did God really say?

Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?

Genesis 3:1

The enemy will always attack in our soul realm; he will seek to deceive, manipulate, and control our mind, will, and emotions. Since the beginning of creation he has always tried to distort and contradict what God says. Did God really say that His thoughts towards you are for good and not for evil? Did God really say that goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life? Did God really say that you are His precious possession?

The enemy will always target two areas: the truth of God’s Word and our identity. But thankfully we have an advocate, Jesus, who overcame the temptation of the devil. He became our victor, so we could walk in victory. He overcame, so that He could call us over-comers. He paid the price to defeat sin, hell, death, and satan. He took back all authority from the enemy, leaving him with none! So the enemy now has no authority, but he will take power wherever we allow him to. The only place that he can do this is in our soul realm (mind, will and emotions)

The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:3-4

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of allowing the enemy to have free reign in my soul. I repent of allowing my mind, will, and emotions to wreak havoc in my life. I repent of allowing the enemy to question Your Word and my identity in You. I now come out of agreement with his deceptive lies and call them out for what they are - lies of the enemy to hold me back from my new nature and identity in You. Thank You for the fullness of life that You have so graciously and lovingly given me.

God is always good DAY FIVE

If it’s not good, it’s not God

If God is good, then why do bad things happen to good people? Why is there suffering, poverty, and natural disasters?

This question points to a fundamental misunderstanding of the whole story of humanity’s history, the overall picture of the Bible, God’s plan for the redemption of all creation, and the extremely important role we play in this story. The unfortunate reality is we continue to live in the consequences of a fallen world. When sin entered the world all of creation became corrupted. But thank God the story doesn’t end there. We see in Genesis 3 the promise of a coming redeemer, setting in motion God’s redemptive plan.

However the enemy knows if he can keep our eyes, ears, and hearts disconnected from knowing where we fit in the story and the tremendous victory that was won through Christ’s death and resurrection, that we will live with a pessimistic view of the world around us; that we will continue to look to organisations and governments to solve problems that can only be solved by the unshakable Kingdom in us, His church. He knows if he can keep us focused on ourselves and keep us focused on what’s negative around us that we will struggle to see and experience the radical goodness of God at work.

The greatest opposition to the Kingdom of God advancing in our own lives and sphere of influence is our own kingdoms. If we would open our eyes and hearts to see the amazing things God is doing around the world right now, if we could grasp that even in the midst of radical persecution, millions of Muslims are turning to Christ, that the Kingdom is advancing across the world right now. If we would only see that and then cry out, as the prophet Habakkuk did “LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, LORD. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known.”

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of being focused on self, of being only concerned about my own welfare. I turn from being inward focused and ask for Heaven’s perspective; to know the reality and revelation that I am seated in Heavenly places with You, Jesus.

You can see Godfrom anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him

A.W. TOZER

Jesus paid the price in full

DAY SIX

Who’s the centre of your story?

Negativity or a negative view on life often points to the fact that we have made ourselves the centre of our story, rather than Jesus.

Ultimately it’s all about Jesus, but then He turns around and says, ultimately it’s about people. The nature of Christ in us is evidenced by the fruit of the Spirit; it’s evidenced by our love for people and our passion to serve others. If we have truly made Jesus the centre of our lives, then the salvation of souls will be our passion and focus.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 6:33

The context of this verse is Jesus saying don’t be anxious about food, shelter, money, and material possessions. However these are often the very things we pray for and are anxious over.

So how do we know if we are seeking first His Kingdom?Consider this question - If all your prayers were answered today, how many souls would be saved? How many marriages would be restored? How many churches would be flourishing? How many lives would be transformed? How many cities would be prospering?

The Kingdom operates on a certain set of ‘rules’ like gravity. These are unchanging and operate whether we are aware of, or acknowledge them. Negativity is a sure sign we are living outside of the flow of the Kingdom in some or many areas of our lives.

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of making myself the centre of my story. I ask for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit in me, and on me. I want to live with a passion for Your Kingdom to come, for Your will to be done in and through my life.

Jesus paid the price in full

DAY SEVEN

God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust.

A.W. Tozer

The normal Christian life is one of continual surrender, surrendering our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. Ultimately this is an issue of trust or faith.

Those who struggle with negative thinking should do the same thing they would do with any other sin - confess it (agree with God that negative thinking is wrong because it reveals a lack of trust) and make every effort to change the behaviour.

Fear of man will prove to be a snare,but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

Provers 29:25

In everyday life you show your trust in someone by entrustingsomething to them - your reputation, your money, yourphysical wellbeing - and by doing what they say.

So it is with the Lord Jesus. You bow before Him as Lord andyou unload your sin, your guilt, and your past onto Him and youhand over to Him your mind, feelings, possessions, relationships,future, desires, etc. You say to Him, ‘I’m Yours completely.’ Andthen you show your love and trust and commitment to Him bydoing what He says.

If you love me, you will want to obey what I command.John 14:15

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of not trusting You. I turn from putting trust in my own self-effort, from trusting others over You, from allowing my emotions and feelings to dictate my view of You. Help me to trust You more and more each day and fill me with a courageous spirit to step out in faith and trust each day.

But everyone who calls on the nameof the Lord will be saved.

Acts 2:21

HERE’S A PARABLE ABOUT THIS PROCESS

It’s a violently stormy day yet a person insists on going out intoCook Strait with little skill in handling boats, in an obviouslyunseaworthy craft, with no life jacket or safety gear.

The inevitable happens. The boat sinks, and they are left struggling in the water, hanging on to broken bits of the boat, but about to drown.

Watching on the shore is a man, muscular, strong, a powerfulswimmer. He calls out, ‘Here I am’, and swims out through thesurging sea. The drowning person sees him and cries out, ‘Help,save me.’

As the swimmer gets closer, he calls back to the person, ‘Stopstruggling, let go of that stuff and hang on to me. Let me holdyou.’ The drowning person does so.

They give up the struggle and cling tightly to their rescuer,who starts to steadily plough his way back to dry land. Despitethe ferocity of the storm and the added weight, he’s absolutelyrock steady as he swims through the waves to shore.

That’s a simple picture of what it means to ‘call on the name ofthe Lord to be saved.’ Have you done this or are you still holdingonto the broken and hopeless pieces of your life?

Saved=SozoSozo means “to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve,

do well, and be made whole.”

The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking,

still making little forward progress,

is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves.

We're still trying to give orders, and interfering with God's work within us.

A.W. TOZER

Jesus paid the price in full

DAY EIGHT

Where is your focus?

Science now proves Romans 12:2, “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Science now says that our minds will prioritise whatever we put our focus on. Our minds create pathways of least resistance, so whatever we put our attention to, our minds will make that the priority or the default mind pattern. So whatever we feed into our minds will become the default of what comes out.

Focusing on the finished work of the cross and the incredible promises of God will start to renew your mind and rid negativity from your thought life.

There are over 3000 promises in the Bible.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen”

is spoken by us to the glory of God.2 Corinthians 1:20

This scripture is saying that through Christ, God has already said ‘YES’ to His promises, they have been given, granted, and released; but the ‘AMEN’ comes through us, is ‘spoken, confessed, and declared’ by us. Amen means ‘so be it.’ When we start to declare God’s promises and goodness over our lives, we start to align ourselves with the truth of God’s Word.

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.

Oswald Chambers

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I declare that You intend good for my life. I thank You Jesus, that You have paid the price for my freedom from sin, shame, guilt, and condemnation. I thank You that through You, all of the promises of God are made freely available to me.

Jesus paid the price in full

DAY NINE

Whats happened to all your joy?

As Christians we are called to be followers of Jesus Christ. Living a life set free from the world’s enslavement. No longer slaves to fear, anxiety, stress, sickness, and finances but living in abundant life full of joy, peace, and love. Having healthy relationships with ourselves, spouses, family, friends and most of all our Heavenly Father.

If we are honest with ourselves, are we living the life Jesus has set out for us? Often we can get caught up with life and our focus drifts, our minds are full of negative thoughts, so our mouth is negative; therefore our lives become become negative.

What, then, happened to your positive attitude?Galatians 4:15

When you study God’s Word you realise you need to trust Jesus and trust God to restore you. To trust, negativity must go. Negative minds produce negative lives, but positive minds produce positive lives. Negative thoughts are full of fear and doubt, but positive thoughts are full of faith and hope.

Everything that makes you feel powerless is a lie. In the same way, anything that tells you that you can’t change is a lie.

Kris Vallotton

Don’t just claim the name of Jesus over your life and then live contrary to what His name provides. We try in our own strength to sort our issues out, instead of letting God do only what He can do for us. He can transform us into the people He created us to be. When you live from the Kingdom of Heaven not towards it, joy is plentiful.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own under-standing; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths

straight.Proverbs 3:5-6

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of a negative attitude. I believe Jesus paid the price to set me free from myself and my thoughts. Jesus, I choose to maintain a positive attitude in all circumstances and seek Your guidance.

Jesus paid the price in full

DAY TEN

Take control of your emotions

Emotions are meant to be a check engine light warning you that something is going on in the inside that needs to be dealt with. You don’t just go to the garage and and ask them to turn the light off with out having a look to see what the issue is and fixing it. If you do that, you are just wanting for the break down to happen!

Often we can feel something is wrong and we don’t investigate why: sudden anger in the day, frustration over small things, and feeling overwhelmed by day-to-day tasks. We continue to shove the feelings down, losing our joy, and just being miserable when we have the answer - Jesus.

We need to ask ourselves why I’m I feeling like this? Make the decision I am not going to allow this emotion to rob me of my joy! Emotions are not meant to lead us, they are a warning sign that there is something going on on the inside that can’t be left unnattended.

When we invite Jesus into the situation, He is able to cover it with His love. Don’t allow emotions to take control of your day and rob you of your time.

You do have a choice when it comes to emotions. Choose not to let negative emotions to control your life! Negativity is a love deficit, when we are feeling that emotion God is trying to show you an area in your life that needs His love. When we choose to ignore the warnings the emotion ends up spilling out into every area of our life affecting our thoughts, decisions, and perception of who Jesus is. The power of His name and understanding the Fathers Heart is always for our good.

REPENTANCE PRAYERHeavenly Father I repent of being led by my emotions and not seeing the warning signs. I acknowledge my feelings, and I ask You Holy Spirit to reveal to me the real issue or thought behind this emotion. I declare the blood of Jesus over the lie, and ask for Your love to come into this area of my life.

We are Spirit filled, led, and empowered

DAY ELEVEN

You can’t do this…

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.

Zechariah 4:6

We have been set the humanly impossible task of being ambassadors of Christ (2 Cor 5:20). But thank God we have been given The Helper, the Holy Spirit. When we are filled, led, and empowered by Him, the impossible becomes possible; what previously filled us with fear or anxiety is now replaced with courage and boldness. When we are filled and led by His Spirit, we are no longer slaves to our mind, will, and emotions; but we now overflow with the fruit of the Spirit which includes joy and self control (discipline).

Acknowledging that we can’t change ourselves no matter how hard we try is the first step towards living a transformed, Spirit led, and empowered life.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t make me better than you, being filled with the Holy Spirit makes me better than me!

Chris Hodges, Church of the Highlands

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not

come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.John 16:7

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I give up! I give up trying to change me, trying to live Your life, without You. I repent and surrender my broken, hopeless life and ask for Your life and breath to fill me to overflowing. I want to live a life filled to overflowing with Your Spirit.

HELPFUL QUOTES

...body and mind and life and heart, taking the whole personality over, gently, but directly and bluntly, and making it His, so that

we may become a habitation of God through the Spirit.A.W. Tozer, How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

Thoughts of peace, thoughts of pity, thoughts of charity, thoughts of God, thoughts of the Son of God—these are pure things, good things and high things. Therefore, if you would

cultivate the Spirit’s acquaintance, you must get hold of your thoughts and not allow your mind to be a wilderness in which

every kind of unclean beast roams and bird flies. You must have a clean heart.

A.W. Tozer, How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

The next thing is, have faith (Gal. 3: 2). We receive Him by faith as we receive the Lord in salvation by faith. He comes

as a gift of God to us in power. First He comes in some degree and measure when we are converted, otherwise we couldn’t

be converted. Without Him we couldn’t be born again, because we are born of the Spirit. But I am talking about something different now, an advance over that. I am talking about His

coming and possessing the full...A.W. Tozer, How to Be Filled with the Holy Spirit

We are Spirit filled, led, and empowered

DAY TWELVE

Praise and anxiety cannot co-exist in the same heart

Our thoughts are the decorations inside the sanctuary where we live.

A.W. Tozer

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.Philippians 4:6

Did the Apostle Paul really mean not to worry about anything? Is that even possible? Isn’t worry just part of human nature?

Yes, worry is part of our human nature. Unfortunately when sin entered the world, emotions like worry did too. However, our fallen human nature always clarifies what being separated from God looks like. And it often looks like fear.

As God’s beloved children, we are called to faith, not fear. Faith says, “God is in charge of my life; I will trust Him, even when circumstances might suggest He’s not there. I believe God loves me and knows what is best for me.” Faith always crowds out fear.My heart longs to live in faith; however, at times this is difficult. But here’s the key: “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”(Romans 10:17).

If I haven’t made time to hear from God through His Word, I find my prayers being more of a monologue of fear-based worry.But when I make time to listen to God, I’m reminded of His promises and I become familiar with His voice. As a result, my prayers really do change from panic to praise.

God’s Word reminds us to put the kingdom of God first and the things we need will be ours (Matthew 6:33). In other words, when I devote myself to God first, all the rest will sort itself out, and this brings peace.

What is most pressing in your life right now? Whatever that is, put God’s Word there instead. Replace worry with the truth of God’s love and power. Then we can trust that God will do as He says: “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed” on Him (Isaiah 26:3).

As I think about God’s promises, panic turns to praise, praise turns to peace and peace turns to rest. I begin to understand what Paul meant when he said, “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand” (Philippians 4:7). It enables us to live a life with positivity.

It is possible to experience God’s peace. When we learn to cast our cares on God and trust Him to handle them, faith replaces fear. Worry sees problems, but faith sees the God who can handle the problems.

God’s Word changes how we cast our cares. When we choose to cast them onto Him instead of into the air, we’ll find comfort in His promises. This is why I love praise as it’s exalts the solutions and fixing your eyes on the one who produces joy!

REPENTANCE PRAYERHeavenly Father forgive me for the times I have worried. Help me to be devoted to You and Your love, not my circumstances. I want to rest in You and experiences your joy. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Nancy McGuirkProverbs 21 Ministries

Historians will probably call our era

“the age of anxiety” Anxiety is the natural result when our hopes are centered in anything short of God and His will for us

BILLY GRAHAM

We are Spirit filled, led, and empowered

DAY THIRTEEN

Hosting the presence of God

After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God

descending like a dove and settling on him.Matthew 3:16

In all four Gospels the Holy Spirit is described as a dove that descended upon Jesus. This is a helpful description for when we think about hosting God’s presence. Imagine the Holy Spirit as a dove upon your shoulder; the dove is a very gentle bird. How would a dove resting gently upon your shoulder change how you live? What places and circumstances would you not want to take God’s presence into? What would cause the dove to fly off your shoulder, because He can’t be a part of this?

God says you can find Him in the stillness, in the quiet place. Is there enough stillness and quietness in your life for the Holy Spirit’s presence to rest upon you?

God says, “Be still and know that I am God.” God says, “In MY presence is fullness of joy.” God says, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”God says, “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”God says, “Enter my presence through thanksgiving and praise.”

Trying to be happy without a sense of God’s presence is like trying to have a bright day without the sun.

A.W. Tozer

We are Spirit filled, led, and empowered

DAY FOURTEEN

Who is He?

He is indivisible from the Father and the Son, so that if you were to be suddenly transferred to heaven itself you wouldn’t be any

closer to God than you are now, for God is already here.A.W. Tozer

God is a Triune God, He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Each per-son of the Trinity is a relational, personal being. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence with us right now. He is not a force or an energy, He is a person that wants to walk with you, talk with you and relate to you.

We can know that the Holy Spirit is a divine person because He possesses a mind, emotions, and a will. The Holy Spirit thinks and knows (1 Corinthians 2:10). The Holy Spirit can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26-27). He makes decisions according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). The Holy Spirit is God, the third Person of the Trinity. As God, the Holy Spirit can truly function as the Comforter and Counsellor that Jesus promised He would be (John 14:16, 26, 15:26).

He wants to fill you with His love and presence, so that He can flow out of you to the world around us. He is also our Comforter and Counsellor, we do not need to face our day alone.

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of the times that I have grieved Your Holy Spirit, by not honouring Your presence, not turning to You first as my Comforter and Counsellor, for the times I have allowed unwhole-some talk come out of my mouth rather than first seeking your wisdom.

We are Spirit filled, led, and empowered

DAY FIFTEEN

Mere humans?

Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere

infants in Christ. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. You are still

worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans?

1 Corinthians 3:1-3

In this passage Paul makes this incredible statement, ‘Are you not acting like mere humans?’ In other words he saying, it is possible to ‘no longer be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ to live outside of the pressures and patterns of this world and live from Heaven towards earth, to have Heaven’s perspective.

The way we act, react, and interact with people points to who we are being led by or who we are conforming to. Are we being led by our flesh desires, conforming to the world? Or are we being led by the Spirit, conforming to His ways of acting, reacting, and interacting?

Spiritual maturity has nothing to do with experience, years of being a Christian, or head knowledge, but everything to do with a life surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus and the surrender to the filling, leading, and empowering presence of the Holy Spirit.

Are any of these traits common in your life? Complaining? Jealousy? Negativity? Fault finding? Judgment? Self-righteousness? Pride? Argumentativeness? If so, these point to a life conformed to the world, rather than Christ.

I would encourage you to ask someone close to you, a spouse, friends, or children. ‘What’s it like to live with me? Do you see any of these traits in my life?’

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of allowing myself to be conformed to this world, I turn from my negative and complaining attitude and come into agreement with Your Spirit and nature, one of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Complaining proves nothing, but that you can hear the voice of the devil.

Bill Johnson

The Church is God's Plan A, there is no Plan B

DAY SIXTEEN

Fishing or Fighting?

“Come, follow me," Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.”

Matthew 4:19

Max Lucado grew up fishing. He said: 'We set out...dreaming of...sun. But...next morning the sky was grey, the lake a mountain of white-topped waves...there was no way we could fish...Next day...it was ice! We tried to be cheerful...but I began to notice...Mark had a few personality flaws...Dad was touchy...Nothing like being cooped up with someone to see his real nature! When we awoke the next morning to sleet...we were flat-out grumpy...Mark became even more of a jerk...Dad couldn't do anything right, and when he announced we were going home, nobody objected...’

When energy intended for outside is used inside...instead of casting nets, we cast stones. Instead of helping hands we point accusing fingers. Instead of being fishers of the lost, we become critics of the saved. Rather than helping the hurting, we hurt the helpers. The result? Split churches. Poor testimonies. Broken hearts. Legalistic wars. But when those who are called to fish, fish - they flourish...Nothing unites soldiers like a common task. Leave them inside and they'll invent things to complain about. The bunks will be too hard, food too cold, leadership too tough. Place those same soldiers in the trench and let them duck a few bullets and a boring barracks will seem like a haven. The next time outside challenges tempt you to stay inside - get out!

When those who are called to fish don't fish, they fight!When those that are made to fish, fish, they flourish.

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent for not engaging in the one thing You asked of us, to make disciples. I am sorry for being inward focused, rather than focused on how I can contribute to reaching a lost and broken world. Help me to live according to Your will and live with purpose!

Don’t be a fault finder,

be a

hope dealer.CRAIG GROESCHEL

DOES NOT equal

‘I’m right’.BRIAN JOHNSON

Being offended

The Church is God’s Plan A, there is no Plan B

DAY SEVENTEEN

You cannot build what you are tearing down

All of us are called to BE the church and to BUILD the church.

Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need

and bringing grace to those who listen.Ephesians 4:29

So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

The greatest demonstration and evidence of God’s love in us, is how we talk about one another, how we deal with offence, how we treat one another, and how we encourage and build one another up. In every circumstance we have the opportunity to respond from Christ’s nature in us which produces life, or respond from our flesh which produces death; each will have radically different fruit and outcomes!

One will advance the Kingdom of God, the other will advance the kingdom of darkness.

You must guard your mouth, because no matter what you say, you are launching weapons of one sort or another.

Terry Law, The Power of Praise and Worship

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of holding and carrying offence. I come out of agreement with the enemy’s lies and plans to divide Christ’s church. Holy Spirit help me to be one who always has an encouraging word, help me to see people for their created value and to always believe that everyone genuinely has the best intentions at heart, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

The Church is God’s Plan A, there is no Plan B

DAY EIGHTEEN

Church, the fruit of the Kingdom

Christian community is a gift that God gives, not something human effort can produce. It is not based on need, but on the joy of sharing relationship with fellow-travellers.

The life of Jesus flows from the individual into the body, not from the body to the individual; and whenever we try to get from the body what we are not finding in Jesus, we are making an idol of it.

Are you trying to get from the church what was only intended to be received from Jesus? Negativity towards the church, is often rooted in false or misaligned expectations of ‘the church.’ Sometimes we can try to find our significance and value in positions, roles and titles in a church, rather than our worth being found in our identity as a child of God. When we do this we can easily become offended, bitter, and angry when our expectations, needs and feelings of worth are not met.

Often we forget that ‘I am/we are the Church’ and look for the church as an ‘organisation’ to meet our needs, rather than acknowledging that the church is an ‘organism’ that God has gifted to the community to meet their needs.

It’s not so much that God’s church has a mission, it’s that the mission of God has a church.

Alan Hirsch

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of every area that I have tried to get my needs met through the church, rather than putting my trust in You. I repent of making the church an idol before You. I ask You to restore my identity and help me to find my worth and value in You alone. Thank you that I am Your redeemed, restored, and deeply loved child.

The Church is God’s Plan A, there is no Plan B

DAY NINETEEN

Righteousness, peace and joy

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17

If someone was to ask you, ‘what is the Kingdom of God like?’ We should be able to say, come along this Sunday and you will see it in action.

As God’s church we are His chosen people, His ambassadors, people that carry the Kingdom within us.

So what does that look like? It’s looks like people who are carriers of peace. The word peace in Hebrew is ‘Shalom.’ When we understand this word in the Hebrew we can see that it has a far greater depth than just ‘peace.’ Shalom means completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, and the absence of agitation or discord. Shalom comes from the root verb shalom meaning to be complete, perfect and full.

Another definition of the word Shalom is ‘The authority that breaks the spirit of chaos’ So Paul says in Romans, those who live full of the Kingdom will carry an authority that breaks the spirit of chaos.

This is who you are! The church is not just a place you attend, ‘the Church’ is an army of people who LIVE IN and RELEASE the supernatural love of Jesus. The Church is a gathered and scattered group of people who carry and release the Kingdom of God.

REPENTANCE PRAYERLord I repent of not walking in and releasing the fullness of Your Kingdom. Thank you for so freely giving me Your righteousness, peace, and joy. Just as I have freely received, I freely give!

The Church is God’s Plan A, there is no Plan B

DAY TWENTY

Righteousness, peace and joy

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17

What does the Kingdom look like? A group of people full of joy! Laughter and happiness are hallmarks of a born again, Spirit filled Christian!

Sometimes, we may not feel like we are full of joy or feel like laughing, but we also need to remember that we walk by faith, not by feelings. Sometimes we access joy through faith. Maybe we just need to start laughing even if we don’t feel like it? Bringing a sacrifice of praise to God!

In the Kingdom of God, joy is your right. Joy is your inheritance!

A cheerful heart is good medicine.Proverbs 17:22

The joy of the Lord is your strength.Nehemiah 8:10

It’s the joy of the Lord that empowers us in our lives, not circumstantial happiness based on worldly desires and pleasures.

As we bring the negativity fast to a close, we encourage you to make a choice today. A choice to choose positivity over negativity, that you will step into joy each day by faith, that you will pursue God to know Him intimately, and allow the joy of the Lord to be your empowering strength!

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.

Hebrews 13:15

The Church is God’s Plan A, there is no Plan B

DAY TWENTY ONE

Frustration

Frustration does not exist in the kingdom.It is a device of the world,

A negative construct contraryto the nature of the Bright One.

Frustration is an admission that we are baffled, checked, blocked, neutralized in faith —

by people, circumstances, and opposition.Frustration legitimizes negative emotions,

giving them a place in our experience.

Frustration is discontent opening our heart to lethargy.We become irked, resentful, disappointed,

gullible to defeat —Owned by pessimism.

We must learn how to use frustrationand not be used by it.

To be frustrated is to admitthat I do not possess at this moment

The required amount of patience, peace,and joy for the circumstances of my life.

If I focus on frustration,the core of my attention

Is the opposite of who God is for me.

Frustration is an emotional signthat I need an upgrade.

It points to an available increase,raising my awareness of God’s provision.

Therefore, frustration must turn tocelebration of God’s intent.

In the hands of the enemyit robs me of enthusiasm.

It blinds me to all the possibilitiesof the one true Spirit.

I become disheartened, looking forpity, sympathy —

Seeking fellow victims of discouragement.I give permission to be afflicted.

Frustration causes negative fellowshipas I move in the opposite spirit

To Christ within.

In the hands of the Shining OneIt points towards fullness,

The reality of something more —greater success unfolding.

Frustration is turned into confessionin one stroke of happy thinking.

“Thank you, Father, that frustrationreveals my lack of Your fullness.

It points me to the upgrade available.It releases Your permission to become more.

Patience, peace, and joy aboundconstantly in Your presence.Grace follows the upgrade;love flows more powerfully.

I am renewed, restored, made bigger,enabled to see from a greater height

Of Your affection.Everything must bow

to patience, peace, and joy.They are Heaven’s true reality.”

Frustration is earthly, one dimensional,and destructive.

It reduces everything it touches.

It makes us start everything

From a place of deficit.We struggle to catch up

With God’s reality.Frustration is reality

From a wrong dimension.

To fight frustration we must turnour back on it,

Look into the heart of the Onecommitted to our development,Trade our sorrows for His joy.

Frustration must turn to celebration.

Patience is the fast track to greater heights.Joy is the welcoming party to Presence.Wisdom releases the focus of Heaven.

Peace releases the angst,Causing us to smile, be carefree.Contentment with godliness —

… a sure winner.

Graham Cooke Frustration

The Way of the Warrior