Mental Hygiene for Christian dotcomrades

ed's note: It will personally be beneficial if you take a jar and place a quarter in it each and every time you find you say, "I can't" during this challenge. As soon as you catch yourself, say out loud (if you can) Philippians 4:13 says: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHICH STRENGTHENS ME. More on that later as we get our feet wet in this challenge.

ed's note: No, I can't's, but two I don't want to's. Changed my mind and agreed to do, but wonder if this is negativity with me also.

Day 2)

We have embarked upon a journey who's time has come. I have never been more excited and expectant about anything I have been a part of. Stay with me these 40 days, and watch what God will do in your life.

Fasting is very popular, but 'fasting from wrong thinking' is unprecedented--until now. This journey will take us to a place that dieting and abstaining from food, could never get us.

Yesterday we fasted from the thought: "I can't". Victory or Defeat in life is determined by what will control the decision making process of your life...and your decisions are determined by your thought life.

When you THINK: CAN'T, you will live: CAN'T. We are going to live: CAN! I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me!

In a couple of days, on our website [URL=http://www.thinkingfast.org/]http://www.thinkingfast.org/[/URL] you will be able to access previous days thoughts, and how to fast from those. You can start at any time on this journey.

But I encourage you to do it daily, which will build a habit in your life, leading to character that conquers. In Day 2, today we are fasting from the thought that says: "I don't have enough".

Now follow me here...

This is a mindset, an attitude that says, "I don't have enough money. I don't have enough time. I don't have enough friends. I don't have enough experience. I don't have enough education..."

This thought is an invisible fence that keeps you in the backyard of lack and deficiency.

Our God calls Himself: El Shaddai - the God of more than enough! We have more than enough of God living inside of us--Let us not think "not enough" anymore. Lets think: More than enough.

In 1 Kings, there was more than enough for Elijah and the widow.

In Exodus, there was more than enough for the children of Israel, everyday.

In John 6, there was more than enough bread left over, after Jesus fed the 5000.

In Mark 5, there was more than enough anointing to heal Jairus, the woman with the issue of blood, and the people that were sitting by.

Think this: I always have enough, because Philippians 4:19 says, God shall supply ALL my needs, according to His riches.

Say it: I always have enough. My God is more than enough. He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that there will not be room enough to receive.

He gives back to me, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over!

Sow a seed: Go online to make a donation to the INSIDE OUT campaign, so I can take this message to more people in more places! Not only does sowing a seed change someone else's life. But it reinforces your new THOUGHT system, that YOU DO HAVE ENOUGH!

Your friend,

Gregory Dickow

ed's note lesson 2: I do have to say God led me upon a severe poverty path for a few years. It revolutionized my life as I began to see the difference between a want and a need. As I pray for others I immediately know whether it is need or greed. I do know one thing I have learned with all my being: Psa 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; Yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his seed begging bread.

He sustains and gives us our daily bread. We may not agree with His portion, yet, in America, when we look at the obesity rate in the 60%, we must agree that His standard of need verses our wants are two different visions.

Day 3

Feeling overwhelmed? Today's fast from wrong thinking is for you!

Were fasting today from the thought: "I'm overwhelmed". And the thoughts that go with it: "This will take forever. I've got too much to do. This is too much for me to take. There isn't enough time. I can't take it anymore."

These thoughts have to go! Today!

How?

First, everything you see in this world was created in 6 days. God is in the business of getting things done, and getting them done fast. EXPECT HIS HELP TODAY. You can't do it alone.

Most people don't understand what Jesus meant when He said, "Take My yoke upon you..."

A yoke is a harness or instrument placed upon TWO oxen. It causes them to plow together, so that when one gets weak or OVERWHELMED, he can continue to be pulled by the other. When we feel overwhelmed we need to TAKE HIS YOKE. That means: He is attached to us, and will help carry the load. Of course, He ends up doing most of the carrying, so:

Cast your cares upon Him. He will care for you. (1 Peter 5:7.) How? Be honest. Tell him what's wrong (what's up). Ask Him to carry it for you. Believe that He will.

See yourself attached to Him (yoked to Him). He holds you up.

Begin to believe that you can handle anything. BELIEVE THIS TODAY. You can handle anything. Mark 9:23 "All things are possible for those who believe."

Think it. I can handle anything today, because I am yoked to Jesus.

Say it. I can handle anything today, because I am yoked to Jesus.

Well, this is our third day of "fasting from wrong thinking". I want you to realize something. We're developing a habit. Stay with me. Give me these 40 days. After 40 days (6 weeks), habits are formed. We're forming the habit of ABSTAINING from negative thinking. When the thought comes back, you can go back to that day's email or the archive on www.thinkingfast.org. Go over it again, and again.

There a few things that I can honestly say I know are from God. This is one of them. If we will fast from these thoughts daily, we will have lasting change in our lives. I believe God has put on my heart to take this concept to the world. We are raising up an army of people who will think right, therefore live right!

Friends, success or failure in life is created by how you think. Proverbs 23:7 (you'll see me quote this countless times), "As a man thinks, so is he". You are NOT GOING TO FAIL. You are the head and not the tail!

Your friend,

Gregory Dickow

Day 3 observation: I have an area that I pray for daily. I see no progress. Yet, knowing I am yoked to Jesus, I know He carries this share of burden more than I do. I like it!

Day 4

As we approach Day 4 of our FAST from wrong THINKING, it is important we keep our eye on the ball. We are fasting (abstaining from, GIVING UP) wrong ways of thinking. That means there are certain mindsets and beliefs in our heads, that we have to eliminate. They are toxic and poisonous to the victorious life we desire to live. To keep thinking the same things, and expect our lives to change, is absurd.

As a man thinks within, so is he! (Proverbs 23:7)

Today's thought that we're fasting from has to do with tragedy and suffering. When something bad happens such as yesterday's college shooting or last week's deadly tornados, it's easy for fear to creep in, and to think we are open game or sitting ducks for Satan or twisted people to strike at any time.

It's wrong to think: Something bad might happen to me or my family.

DO NOT open the door to the expectation of evil. Your mind may argue with this, but that's why we're going to fast from this thought. Of course, WE MUST have compassion, prayer, and practical support for those who have suffered, but we cannot allow what has happened to create our expectations.

Job CONTINUALLY THOUGHT something bad might happen to his family. And then it did. He said, "What I have feared has come upon me". (Job 3:25)

Lets take this thought captive. How?

BELIEVE God's promise: Psalm 91:10 - No evil shall befall me, nor shall any plague come near my tent. (The Message translation: "Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. He ordered His angels to guard you wherever you go.")

THINK within yourself: "No weapon formed against me shall prosper" (Isaiah 54:17).

FILL your mind and heart with this, over and over today, until it starts coming out of your mouth.

KNOW that God brings His Word to pass, when we believe it. Jeremiah 1:12 says "I am watching over My word to perform it."

EXPECT something good to happen to you and your family.

I want to leave you with this good thought today:

There is no stopping the man or woman who is set free from wrong thinking!

In His Love,

Gregory Dickow

ed's note lesson 4: Quite aware of this verse, and I counter it in my thoughts with the following: "What I have feared has come upon me". (Job 3:25)

Jer 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.

DAY 5

Fasting from these thoughts is developing a HABIT of RIGHT THINKING. Not only are we overcoming each individual thought; but, as we are consistent at this, we will reverse the tendency of thinking negatively into thinking positively. This is how we change from the inside out! Proverbs 23:7 "As a man thinks within, so is he."

Today, we are fasting from the thought: "I'm so worried."

Worry not only has the power to weigh us down and depress us, but it also chokes out the Word of God that is sown in our heart. The key to fasting from this thought, is to realize that worry is a habit. The more you do it, the more you become addicted to it. People try to comfort themselves with worry, and yet it has the exact opposite effect. We'll break that habit, by fasting from the thought: "I'm so worried." How?

First, you have to RECOGNIZE that worry does NO GOOD. Jesus said in Matthew 6:27-29, "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are." (NLT)

Worry hurts. It produces burdens and sickness. Proverbs 12:25 says "Worry weighs a person down." When you know something is hurting you, you'll usually stop doing it.

Since worry is "thinking about things that are wrong", start thinking about all the things that are right in your life. Psalm 103:1-5 "...forget not one of His benefits, who pardons your iniquities, heals your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion, and satisfies your years with good things...".

Treat worry as a SIGNAL to pray. Turn it around. Use worry as a weapon. It's telling you to pray! Philippians 4:6-7 "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace..."

Focus on God's purpose for your life. (to win souls, to serve others, to be a blessing, etc.) Matthew 6:25 "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life-whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn't life more than food, and your body more than clothing?"

TAKE A LOOK OUTSIDE "...notice" Jesus said, "look at the birds," "look at the lilies of the field," and "look at the grass" He wants us to look outside and notice His care over creation. YOU ARE THE CROWN OF HIS CREATION. Expect His CARE TODAY!

Remember gang, THOUGHTS are more POWERFUL then devils! Think right, live right!

Have a worry-free day!

Gregory Dickow

ed's note day 5: It reminds me of an old saying. I worried and worried then prayed and worried some more. Was it the worry or prayer that persuaded God to ease my problems?

I am not a worry wart (that is what we used to call those) because my Mom was and I learned from her life and early death not to pattern myself in that way.

Day 6

This is the day the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Remember, we are fasting, abstaining from and giving up WRONG THINKING. We have to commit ourselves to give up the thoughts we are fasting from. And we're never going to go back to thinking this way!

Today we're fasting from the thought that says:

"My life is not as good as others."

("I'm not as well off, pretty or successful. My life is not as easy or fun. Things seem to work out for them better than me.")

Friends, this is a deadly way of thinking that we are going to stop TODAY. The same people that you think are better off than you, may look at you the same way. You have no idea what goes on on the inside of others. But more importantly, you have the life that God gave you, and nobody can be better at it, than you.

Let's take this thought captive. How?

Give up the temptation to compare yourself to others. Society trains us to compare ourselves to one another. But 2 Corinthians 10:12 says that when we do this, we are without understanding. And understanding is what gives us the power to be happy and free (Proverbs 3:13-19). Free yourself today from the comparison trap. We'll come back to this more later during our fast, but lets start by ABSTAINING FROM COMPARISONS. (her figure, his money, their marriage, their children, their college, she's a better mother, he's a better dad, etc.). When you compare, you despair.

Realize God has reserved a special gift and portion for you that no one can take. (1 Samuel 9:23-24) There is a portion reserved for you.

Live your life to please God. 2 Corinthians 5:9 says "We have this as our ambition - to be pleasing to God." When you are busy living to please Him, you no longer focus on what other people are experiencing; or how you stack up against them. Stop living for the respect and esteem of others. He is not looking at how you compare to others, but He is looking at whether you believe Him, trust Him, and HONOR Him. Colossians 3:1-2 says "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." You see, we need to be eternally minded.

When you read a promise in scripture, TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Put your name in it, and accept that God is writing to you: take for example Luke 12:42 which says "YOUR heavenly Father, has chosen gladly to give you the Kingdom!" James 1:17 says "Every good and perfect gift comes from above from the Father of lights, in whom there is no shifting shadow of turning."

Stop thinking backwards. This means, stop looking at what you DON'T have, and START TODAY looking at what you do have. You have eternal life. You are God's son or daughter. You are part of a spiritual family. You are a part of a REVOLUTION - FROM THE INSIDE OUT. Thinking this way, creates an attitude of faith for all that God has for you.

Think this and say this: "I am secure. I have a special gift and treasure that God has given me. There is a portion and a place in God.s kingdom reserved for me. I have a GREAT life, because God is my Father, and He has chosen gladly to give me His Kingdom. I am lacking nothing and therefore I am not jealous or envious of what ANYONE else has!"

In His Righteousness,

Gregory Dickow

ed's note on lesson 6. On this quote, "When you compare, you despair," I do that in the following area. I know how blessed I am that God has gifted me, but I see the megas and compare, and revert to thinking I am not doing enough; I am thinking too small: I despair.

TIME FOR THE NEGAVITY to be cast down!

Day 7

Success or failure in life is created by how we think.

I want to remind you that we're forming the habit of ABSTAINING from negative thinking.

We're also becoming of one mind, just as Jesus prayed we would.

As we address a particular thought, its not unusual for that thought to come back to you. When it does, go back to that day's email or go to the archive section of our Revolution website at www.thinkingfast.org. Continue to attack that thought until it doesn't come back.

God is assembling an army of people committed to CHANGING THE WAY THEY THINK, from the inside out!

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: "MY LIFE IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT." "What kind of difference can I make?"

The first thing you have to do to overcome this thought is believe in your importance to God. You are important to God BECAUSE you are God's highest creation. Psalm 8:5-8 says, "Lord, you have made man a little lower than Elohim (God-Himself). And you have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen; Even the beasts of the field. The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea that pass through the paths of the seas."

You are important to God BECAUSE He values you as much as He values Jesus. The value of a thing is determined by how much someone would pay to purchase that thing. God purchased YOU with His own Son. That brings your value up to the same level as Jesus!

If you had been the only person in the world, Jesus would have died for you. That makes you significant.

You are His workmanship. (Ephesians 2:10.) This is an amazing verse as the word, "workmanship" is translated best as "work of art". You are an original with no one else like you. You're not a copy. You're a work of art to God.

You add something to the Body of Christ. Romans 12:4-5 says, "Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."

THINK THIS: I am signficant. I bring to value to those around me. I have a specific part in the body of Christ. My life counts for something. The people in my life are better off because of my relationship with them. I am a work of art.

SAY THIS: Lord, I thank you that I am your workmanship. You have made me a work of art. I am fearfully and wonderfully made, according to Psalm 139:14. I am the crown of your creation. You provide for all my needs. If I was the only person on earth, you would have still sent your Son to die on the cross. I bless everyone I come in contact with. Remember, there is no stopping the man or woman who is set free from wrong thinking!

In His Righteousness,

Gregory Dickow

O.K., Day 7, and I do this one too: "MY LIFE IS NOT THAT SIGNIFICANT."

Yikes, and I think I am so positive wired. Obviously I confuse humility with negativity on myself.

Day 8

want to build upon a thought from a couple of days ago, as I feel strongly about how this mindset must change in all of our lives.

Today's thought that we are fasting from is the "grasshopper mentality" or the "grasshopper complex."

The thoughts that go with this would be: "I feel small. I feel inferior. My opposition is huge. My problems are bigger than me. I"m not up for the challenge."

The 10 spies, sent out by Moses, in Numbers 13:33 gave an evil report. They said, "...we saw the giants in the land and we became like grasshoppers in OUR OWN SIGHT, AND SO we were like grasshoppers in their sight."

The longer they focused on their opposition, the bigger their opposition became. Soon their faith in the God Who had brought them out of the bondage of Egypt, was swallowed up. With it went their ability to believe that they could indeed conquer and possess the land. Others saw them the way they saw themselves.

Candy we're changing the way we see ourselves today!

Let's deal with this:

"ROYALTY destroys inferiority." When you know you are in God's royal family, you will no longer feel inferior or think like a grasshopper. Romans 5:17 says "...through the gift of righteousness, we reign as kings in this life." We have received the GIFT of righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21), therefore we are kings! We are royal!

"We live life from His position, His seat." Ephesians 2:6 says, "He raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in heavenly places."

"We are made in His image." (Genesis 1:26). We have His divine image, with His divine breath, endowed with His divine authority. When you look at yourself in the mirror, you are looking at the image of God!

"Let no man therefore judge you..." (Colossians 2:16) This doesn't mean we avoid accountability or responsibility; but we are inferior to no one. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 11:5, "for I consider myself NOT in the least INFERIOR to the most eminent apostles - his peers."

We are masters over life. Romans 6:14 says, "Sin is not our master." Luke 10:19 says we have authority over all the power of the enemy, so the devil is not our master either.

When we are born again, we are reunited with the original authority God created us to walk in, because we are re-united with the Author. We are reunited with our original mastery over life because we are reunited with the Master.

Here is a revealing name given to Jesus by His disciples - Master. Master means: one who controls or influences events or things. When He healed the sick, they called Him, Master. When He calmed the storm, they called Him, Master. When He forgave the unforgivable, they called Him - Master. He was master over life, and according to 1 John 4:17, "as He is, so are we in this world."

THINK IT and SAY IT:

I am not inferior to anything or anyone, because I am made in the image of God.

I am the righteousness of God, therefore I reign in this life as a king in God's kingdom.

I am in the royal family, and ROYALTY DESTROYS INFERIORITY. I have His divine image, His divine breath and I am endowed with His divine authority. My peers, friends, employers and employees are not superior to me. I respect them because they are made in the image of God, but I will not cower to anyone, be intimidated by anyone or shrink back because of any one.

I am as He is in this life. I am a master over life and its circumstances. I will not be mastered by anything anymore! I am not under man's opinion and judgment. I am under God's.

I am seated with Christ in heavenly places, therefore I see myself from His point of view (a conqueror). I see life from His point of view. I'm bigger than the mountains; taller than the trees; and more a giant than the giants! No grasshopper mentality lives in my head anymore. I shall by all means go up and take possession of the promise land!

Meditate today: Royalty destroys inferiority!

In His Righteousness,

Gregory Dickow

Day 9

Our fast from wrong thinking will release supernatural power in your life. Stay with me through this. I take this very seriously as we identify the truly destructive thought patterns that are producing defeat and lack in our lives. Then we develop simple strategies to HELP YOU overcome those patterns of thought. These seeds will produce the great harvests you have always wanted and needed in every area of your life.

Today.s thought:

"What's wrong with me?"

Have you ever thought that? Who hasn.t? We have all had our bouts with sin-consciousness.a haunting awareness of all that we do wrong, and all that is wrong about us.

We are going to crush this thinking today!

The first problem with this thinking is: it is "me-centered. not .Jesus-centered." It's selfish. We are called to LOOK to Him.the Author and Finisher of our faith. In Hebrews 12:1 God says, "look up" not "look within."

Another problem with this thinking is that it's OBVIOUS! There are many things wrong with all of us. We're flawed people from a natural point of view, but not in God.s eyes. But thinking "what's wrong with me" breeds perfectionism, self-centeredness, obsessive introspection and condemnation for our flaws and shortcomings. (Of course, we need to admit our weaknesses, and receive God.s forgiveness and strength.)

But it starts with developing a "righteousness consciousness", rather than a "sin consciousness".

The constant awareness of our "falling short" is where the devil and religion want to keep us. This keeps us defeated and limited.hemmed in by our human nature, rather than liberated through our divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4 says .Through His promises, we share in the divine nature of God and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust..

1. Understand the gift of righteousness.

2 Corinthians 5:21 says .He who knew NO sin, was made to be sin FOR US, that we would be MADE the righteousness of God.. This is the greatest EXCHANGE in human history! Jesus took our sinfulness and imparted to us His Righteousness.which means we are RIGHT in God.s eyes, not wrong. We are justified. I like the play on words here. Justified = .just if I.d. never sinned.

2. Awake to righteousness.

1 Corinthians 15:34 says "Awaken to what.s right in your life; and you will not sin." You are a child of God. You are forgiven. You are a joint heir with Jesus Christ (Romans 8:16). When God looks at you, He sees the blood He shed. He sees His Son. When God thinks of you, He thinks of a victorious, conquering, strong, powerful, wise, and holy son or daughter. He sees you as a mighty champion. The head and not the tail. Deuteronomy 28:13

Righteousness means: to stand in the presence of God as if sin had never been. To stand in His presence without a sense of guilt, shame, inferiority or condemnation.

3. Eliminate sin-consciousness.

When you are always conscious of what.s wrong, you will DO wrong. When you are always conscious of BEING the righteousness of God.you will DO right. You.ll act on the outside how you see yourself on the inside. (Whenever you think of your .wrongs., cast them upon Jesus. And remember, His .rights. are now yours!)

4. Ask the Holy Spirit to do what He does best.

1 Corinthians 2:12 says ....we have received the Spirit of God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.. Key ministry of the Holy Spirit is to REVEAL what is already yours (NOT TO REVEAL TO YOU ALL THAT IS WRONG IN YOUR LIFE).

5. Dwell on what.s right rather than what.s wrong.

THINK IT & SPEAK IT:

I decide to give up thinking about all that is wrong in my life.and I choose to think about what is right.

I am the righteousness of God, through the blood of Jesus. I stand in the presence of God without guilt, shame, inferiority or condemnation.

I awake to what.s right and believe it will lead me to a victorious life.

I am a joint heir with Jesus. When God looks at me, He sees His blood. He thinks of me as a conquering, powerful and holy son or daughter. I will not think of myself as anything less or more than what God thinks of me!

In His Righteousness,

Gregory Dickow

Day 10

Today we are fasting from the thought that says:.That.s just the way I am..

One of the things that limits us and keeps us defeated is the opinion we have of ourselves. Over time, what other people think of us begins to shape our view of ourselves and what we.re capable of.

"He's shy." "She's stuck up." "He's all talk." "She's not the sharpest knife in the drawer."

We often end up living up to the very opinions and expectations that others have had of us, because it has kind of conditioned us.

Or we feel, .I.ll always be average.. .I.ll always be overweight.. .I.m capable of only making .x. amount of money.. We.re limited by our self-imposed expectations of ourselves.

Today, we are breaking out of the limitations and boundaries we, or others, have put on us. That may have been the way you were, but that.s not the way you are.

1. First of all, He is the potter and we are the clay. (Jeremiah 18:1-6)

God is working on you, to make you what He wants you to be. Trust the Artist to make a masterpiece. Be flexible and adaptable. See yourself as a GOOD work in progress.

2. Philippians 1:6 says, "He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ." Withhold judgment of yourself (or others). Don.t pre-judge what your capacity is, what your potential is.

3. Jeremiah 18:4 says, .the clay was marred, so He made it again.. God doesn.t throw you out. HE NEVER GIVES UP ON YOU.

4. You are changing as you are reading this!

Whatever flaws you have, they are not the final sentence. You are NOW being conformed to the image of Jesus! (Romans 8:29)

Think it & Say it:

I am unlimited in my ability to grow and change.

I am unlimited in my ability to grow and change.

I am what God says I am.

He began a good work in me, and He will finish it.

He is making me into something GOOD.

I am workmanship--His work of art.

I am not in bondage to my weaknesses and former limitations.

Every day and every moment that passes is making me more and more like Him.

In His Hands,

Gregory Dickow

Day 11

I hope you're starting to see a pattern of positive, Biblical thinking replacing negative unbiblical thinking!

That's what this fast is designed to do-replace long-believed lies with the truth. Thought patterns shape our expectations, and our actions. Like a magnet, our thought life "attracts" the things that our mind is full of.

Today we're fasting from the thought that says: "Don't get your hopes up".

This mindset has subtly found its way into our heads. We have been trained by doubt and unbelief to lower our expectations--to brace ourselves for mediocrity and status quo.

To hope is to look up-to have expectation! To hope is to live. Hope is like oxygen. It's like light-in a dark and negative world.

Proverbs 13:12 says: "hope deferred makes the heart sick." There are many great truths from this scripture.

When hope is "put off to the side", your heart becomes sick. When your hopes are "dashed to the ground", your heart becomes sick. Most importantly, your heart becomes sick when you STOP hoping. Hope HEALS!

Let's fast from this thought and replace it with these:

1. GET YOUR HOPES UP. No matter what. Ps. 78:7 "That they might set their hope in God."

2. KEEP THEM UP. I John 3:3 FIX your hope on Him, and it will purify you.

3. When you don't see something happening, hope even more. The fact that you don't see it, gives hope a reason to remain alive in your heart. Once you have something and see it, you don't need to hope for it anymore. It's when you don't see it, that your hope has a reason to exist.

4. Get Faith. Faith is not like hope. Faith cannot be deferred. Faith is a tangible force. It is substance. If you are exercising faith, no one will be able to tell you that God's promise will not come to pass. All fear and doubt pass away and you will be thoroughly convinced of God's promise in your life. There are no ups and downs, just a knowing and a sense of his presence. Faith will overcome all opposition. Faith is the fulfillment of your hope; it is the tree of life. Romans 15:4 "Hope comes from the encouragement of Scripture." And Romans 10:17, "faith comes from hearing the Word".

5. Meditate on the love of God. Hope that IS NOT DEFERRED (delayed, or disappointed) comes from Love. Romans 5:5 "...and hope does not disappoint (or leave you with shame), because the love of God has been shed abroad in your heart."

6. Free yourself from people who think they're doing you a favor by "managing" your expectations, or "protecting" you from disappointment. Get around hopers and dreamers and people who are filled with expectation!

7. THINK IT & SAY IT: My hopes are up! I eliminate the notion of lowering my expectations. I refuse to accept people's advice to "not get my hopes up". I get my hopes up NOW and I keep them up. I expect God's promises to come to pass in my life today! I expect good to come to my life today-In my family, in my home, in my church, in my job, in my relationships, in my body and in my finances. I expect ideas, favor, and wisdom. I look up, expecting to receive the best of what God has for me today. I have unlimited and unhindered hope and expectation.

With great hope,

Gregory Dickow

Day 12

Today's thought that we.re fasting from is: "I'm not that smart'"

("I'm not smart enough." "Everyone seems to figure it out except me", etc.)

Some may think this is not that important, but make no mistake, this thought permeates our thinking and keeps us limited in what we can do, and what influence we can have.

It's another thought that the devil uses to try to make us feel inferior.

Most media and institutions of "higher learning" are not as smart as they think.

Think about how the media reports on politics, health and the economy. Who understands what they're saying? I don't think they do! This world's system is designed to make you feel you don't know enough about what's going on, so you will be dependent on what they say you should think, feel and do.

If you're born-again, you are brilliant! YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. His mind is far smarter than the smartest businessmen, educators, politicians and newsmakers of this life. And you have His mind!"

Let's abstain from the thought: "I'm not that smart." We're giving it up for the rest of our lives beginning today! Now let's replace it:

1. You have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14.)

You have the ability to see things the way God sees, understand the way He understands, and choose the way He would choose. STOP listening to any thought otherwise.

2. EXPECT wisdom today. James 1:5-6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously; but let him ask in faith without doubting".

3. Psalm 16:7 "my mind instructs me in the night." Friends, you are so smart that your mind is even teaching you while you're sleeping!

4. If you ever feel foolish or less educated than the mentally "elite", remember: "He takes the foolish things to confound the wise."

5. Don't think small anymore; and don't talk small. You are made in the image of God, with His intelligence, His brilliance, His understanding.

THINK IT & SPEAK IT:

I have the mind of Christ. I think His thoughts and understand His ways!

I will never again submit to the thought that "I'm not that smart" or "I can't figure it out." I am smart and I can figure it out.

I expect wisdom today and I expect MY MIND TO INSTRUCT ME IN THE NIGHT! I make wise and intelligent decisions.

I will never again be intimidated by the mentally "elite." I am made in His image, filled with His intelligence, His brilliance and His understanding.

In His irresistible Love,

Gregory Dickow

Day 12

Today's thought that we.re fasting from is: "I'm not that smart'"

("I'm not smart enough." "Everyone seems to figure it out except me", etc.)

Some may think this is not that important, but make no mistake, this thought permeates our thinking and keeps us limited in what we can do, and what influence we can have.

It's another thought that the devil uses to try to make us feel inferior.

Most media and institutions of "higher learning" are not as smart as they think.

Think about how the media reports on politics, health and the economy. Who understands what they're saying? I don't think they do! This world's system is designed to make you feel you don't know enough about what's going on, so you will be dependent on what they say you should think, feel and do.

If you're born-again, you are brilliant! YOU HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST. His mind is far smarter than the smartest businessmen, educators, politicians and newsmakers of this life. And you have His mind!"

Let's abstain from the thought: "I'm not that smart." We're giving it up for the rest of our lives beginning today! Now let's replace it:

1. You have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14.)

You have the ability to see things the way God sees, understand the way He understands, and choose the way He would choose. STOP listening to any thought otherwise.

2. EXPECT wisdom today. James 1:5-6 says, "If any man lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all men generously; but let him ask in faith without doubting".

3. Psalm 16:7 "my mind instructs me in the night." Friends, you are so smart that your mind is even teaching you while you're sleeping!

4. If you ever feel foolish or less educated than the mentally "elite", remember: "He takes the foolish things to confound the wise."

5. Don't think small anymore; and don't talk small. You are made in the image of God, with His intelligence, His brilliance, His understanding.

THINK IT & SPEAK IT:

I have the mind of Christ. I think His thoughts and understand His ways!

I will never again submit to the thought that "I'm not that smart" or "I can't figure it out." I am smart and I can figure it out.

I expect wisdom today and I expect MY MIND TO INSTRUCT ME IN THE NIGHT! I make wise and intelligent decisions.

I will never again be intimidated by the mentally "elite." I am made in His image, filled with His intelligence, His brilliance and His understanding.

In His irresistible Love,

Gregory Dickow

Day 13

I'm so glad we're on this journey together. We are a part of a revolution - from the inside out. Our lives don't improve through external changes. We change from the inside out.

This is why it's essential that we connect every day. And that you take the time to read the whole email that I send you. I am convinced that if you stay with me through the duration of this program - this FAST from wrong thinking, you will live the abundant life that God has promised.

When you fast from food, it affects your ENTIRE day. We need this FAST from wrong thinkingi to be a part of our ENTIRE day. Joshua 1:8 says as you meditate on the Word, day and night, wherever you go, you'll prosper, and whatever you do, will be blessed. That's because the creative power and energy of God is cultivated and released in the soil of your thought life.

Today we're fasting from a "victim" mentality.

This includes thoughts that say, "It's their fault." "I was mistreated." "If someone gave me a break, I could make it too." "It's the government's fault." "It's how I grew up." "It's not my fault.", etc.

Viktor Frankl survived the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz by defining ultimate freedom as the ability "to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to chose one's own way."

The worst prison in the world is the one we put ourselves in - in our mind. Mindsets and victim mentalities strip us of the power God has given us to rule our lives in victory.

This is a thought we need to take time and care to dismantle.

Let's go:

1. No one can keep you in your current situation except you. We must begin TODAY to accept total responsibility to become victors, not victims.

2. People may have had something to do with how you got in the situation, but only YOU can decide whether you stay in the situation.

3. The "victim" mentality ends when we TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY for our attitude and direction in life. Deuteronomy 30:15, 19 says, "See, I have set before you this day, life and prosperity and death and adversity...so choose life, that both you and your descendants might LIVE (the victorious, abundant, God-kind-of life)."

4. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Full responsibility doesn't mean, we're in it, alone. God is on our side and He will help us. It's natural to look for help - but let's get it from God. John 16:13 says the Holy Spirit is "Our Helper"! When you have His help, you don't need to blame anyone for anything! We blame when we're helpless - but we're NOT!

5. Understand the root word of "responsibility" is response. We may not be able to control everything that others do to us, but we can control our RESPONSE. In our response lies our freedom and our growth!

6. Don't give away your power. We give away our power to live in victory, health and success - when we allow others to determine how we RESPOND. We have the power to choose; the power to forgive; the power to recover; the power to overcome anything. When we blame others, we give away that power to them.

7. TAKE CHARGE OF WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. The master said to the servant who hid his talent: "Why didn't you at least invest my money so I could have received interest?" (Matthew 25:24-27) He blamed the master, and excused himself. As a result, he fell to the temptation of resentment and fear. He lost everything because he had a victim mentality. THINK IT & SPEAK IT:

No one can keep me down.

I am not a victim. I am a victor. I take full responsibility for my responses in life - my attitudes and my decisions.

God has set before me prosperity or adversity. He has given me the power to choose. I choose prosperity!

Holy Spirit, I am asking for your help. You live in me, and you are my Helper! I refuse to give away my power by blaming others. I choose to respond to life with God's Word.

I take responsibility for my thoughts, my actions and my REACTIONS. I abandon the idea that my situation is the fault of anyone else.

I am an overcomer. I am more than a conqueror through God's great love.

Conquering with you,

Gregory Dickow

Day 16

We really are changing from the inside out---together!

Do you realize that your life is changing for the better, just as the Bible said it would? We are being TRANSFORMED by the renewing of our minds.and we are coming into the perfect will of God.

Yesterday we continued our fast from wrong thinking by eliminating the thought of: "I guess this is all there is. I'll just have to settle."

Today I want to build upon that. Many times our mind (and the devil) tells us that if things don't go our way, that must be God's will. "God must not want me to have this." Or "Whatever happens must be God's will."

Please note, I realize many of us reading this know theologically that God's will is for good. But in our lives, when we face resistance or it seems like God is not responding, we're tempted to give up and let whatever happens happen.

Not anymore!

Let's replace this wrong thinking with right thinking:

(Read) Mark 10:46-52. Blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus, and began to cry out "Jesus, have mercy on me." MANY PEOPLE TOLD HIM TO BE QUIET, but he cried out even more.

You must stop listening to the many voices trying to keep you the way you are. There are voices in your head saying, "keep quiet." There are voices from others saying, "Stay the way you are." There are voices saying, "God must not want you to have this."

NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. Say "no" to those voices and keep going after what God has promised in His Word.

In verse 48, when people tried to shut Bartimaeus up, he cried out EVEN MORE. When you face resistance, add persistence! Press through!

When Jesus heard Bartimeaus crying out, HE STOOD STILL. (Now I.m preaching here!) If you don.t give up, you will get Jesus. attention!

BELIEVE God wants to fulfill your desires, not just your needs. In verse 51, Jesus said, "What do you WANT Me to do for you?" (Bartimaeus didn't NEED to see. He could still live without sight. But Jesus asked him what he WANTED.) God doesn't just meet our needs. He fulfills our desire. (Provided that our desires are founded in scriptural promises.)

Make up your mind that you will not be denied. The woman with the issue of blood would not be denied. The mother of the demon-possessed daughter would not be denied. Bartimaeus would not be denied. You and I will not be denied.

WE MUST RECOGNIZE that our acceptance and tolerance of our present condition is the result of our acceptance of this wrong thinking.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I decide today that I will stop listening to the voices in my head and around me that are telling me to stay the way I am.

I will not be quiet when asking God to fulfill His promises. My prayers will not be silenced by doubt, fear or opposition.

At times when I may feel God is not answering, I will stick to His Word, which says, "Call unto Me and I will answer." God says "Yes" to what He has already promised, therefore I will stand on His promises in all areas of my life. And I will not be denied. I will not tolerate a life of mediocrity or status quo.

I believe that God wants to give me the desires of my heart, and not just my needs. When I face resistance I will add persistence.

I will not give up or give in to my present condition. I will press through the opposition and not be denied. I will not tolerate a present condition of discouragement, sickness, poverty or mediocrity. NOT ANOTHER DAY OF MY LIFE.

Psalm 37:4 says, "He will give me the desires of my heart." I will keep thinking this, believing this, and expecting this until something changes for my good, in Jesus' Name!

With great expectation,

Gregory Dickow

Day 15

Today, we are fasting from the thought that says:

"I guess this is all there is. I'll just have to settle with what I have."

To "settle" means to accept something that is not ideal or desirable, because you don.t believe it could be better.

Many people settle for less than God's best in their life, not because it can't get better, but because they don't THINK it can.

This mindset is destructive because it accepts life the way it is rather than making it the way you want it to be.

For 38 years, the lame man settled by the pool of Bethesda accepting that he would never get better; that he would never get the help he needed to be healed. (John 5:1-10)

He was discouraged and beaten UNTIL Jesus showed up in his life and showed him -- he didn't have to settle. And neither do you!

What does it take to change our wrong thinking here?

Desire -- Jesus said in essence, "you have to want it!" Get desire back in your life. Desire to improve. Desire to get better. Desire to make something great of your life.

Eliminate "excuse making." "No one helps me; no one understands; no one gives me a break." "I was just meant to suffer in this way." Shut those thoughts up! The lame man said, "I have no man to help me." (John 5:7) Stop making excuses.

Do something now to make things better. Improve yourself. Learn something new. Take a class. Learn a language or an instrument. Don't let life dictate to you that "this is all there is."

Believe in the God who is able "to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think." (Ephesians 3:20)

Don't settle for less than God's best. Don't settle for that sickness. Don't settle for just getting by. Don't settle for the way things are. In Mark 10:46-52 blind Bartimaeus would not settle for his current condition. He cried out to Jesus and was healed.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I will never again settle for a mediocre, average existence.

I will not settle for things the way they are. There is more to this life that God has for me, and I expect Him to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that I can ask or think.

I will think big, and ask big. Then I will experience BIG.

I desire to improve, to get better and to make something great of my life. I am NOT an excuse maker. I am always improving; always adding value to my life and the lives of others.

Jesus came to give me life -- abundant in quantity and superior in quality; life to the full; life that overflows.

Living abundantly with you,

Gregory Dickow