Tim Cameron - The Forty-Day Word Fast: A Spiritual Journey to Eliminate Toxic Words From Your Life

O NE OF THE most wonderful by-products of my forty-day fast of words was that theperson closest to me, my wife, noticed my words change. The Lord was transformingmy heart.

My testimony is that I am now a worshipper. Praise is my favorite pastime. Praiseis on my lips and fills up my life! Im not living in the past with my failures andnegative experiences. Praising Him leaves me little time for judging others, speakingcritical words, being sarcastic, remaining negative, complaining, or gossiping.The cost associated with these negative words is too severe, and I just dont havetime for that anymore.

What to do, then, if you have taken the forty-day word fast and find yourself stillstruggling? There is good news. If you are a tough case like me, then simply repeatthe forty days again and again. As you continue in it, you will find your sensitivityto these negative words will grow and your awareness of them in your life will becomeacute. You will hear your words like you have never heard them in times past. Youwill become repentant.

If you become serious and desperate about changing the words that come across yourlips and need further encouragement, then share with your closest friends or matewhat God is doing in you. Tell them the journey you are on. Ask them to pray foryou daily that you might remove these destructive words from your mouth. As you know,if we confess our sins to one another He is faithful to forgive us and cleanse usfrom all of these destructive words (1 John 1:9). The Lord promises too that He hasgrace for the humble (James 4:6). To reach out and be transparent with others isvery humbling.

As a final thought about how to attack these negative words in your life, pray aboutenlisting the support of a close friend or mate to speak the truth over you whenthey hear your transgressions with these negative words. Please use caution hereand do not broadcast a need for accountability. You dont need to surround yourselfwith the word accountability police. You dont need people pointing out what isalready true to youthat you stuck your foot in your mouth again with a sarcasticcomment. But you could use a mature brother or sister who loves you and will pointout the other truth to youthat you are a new creation in Christ and that old thingsare passed away, all things are new. It is the truth that sets you free. You dontneed those negative words anymore. Compassion and kindness are on your lips. Youare a person whose speech is being transformed. You dont need someone pointing outyour faults; you need someone pointing you up to who you are in Christ.

May the Lord so touch your speech that your testimony will agree with Isaiah: TheSovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustainsthe weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one beinginstructed (Isa. 50:4, NIV).

INTRODUCTION

Biblesofts New Exhaustive Strongs Numbers and Concordance With Expanded Greek-HebrewDictionary. Copyright 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators Inc.,s.v. tsuwm, OT 6684.

CHAPTER 1: THE POWER OF WORDS

Charles Spurgeon, Joseph Attacked by the Archers, Sermons Delivered in ExeterHall, Strand; by the Rev. C. H. Spurgeon During the Enlargement of New Park StreetChapel, Southwark (London: Alabaster & Passmore, 1855), 130.

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CHAPTER 3: THE SARCASTIC WOUNDER AND THE CRITIC

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CHAPTER 4: LEAVE BEHIND THE PASTAND NEGATIVE WORDS

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CHAPTER 6: THE MOST WICKED OF ALL WORDS

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CHAPTER 7: FIND THE MORE EXCELLENT WAY

Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary 11th Edition (Springfield, MA: Merriam-WebsterInc., 2003), s.v. optimism.

DAY 6: HEARING AND SPEAKING GODS WORDS

Norman P. Grubb, Rees Howells: Intercessor (Philadelphia: Christian Lit. Crusade,1953), 45.

DAY 13: WHAT COMES FIRST?

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DAY 14: BEHIND ENEMY LINES

Gene Edwards, epigraph to The Prisoner in the Third Cell (Wheaton, IL: TyndaleHouse, 1991).

DAY 16: SPEECH 101

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DAY 19: POST A WATCH

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DAY 23: THE TAMING WORK

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DAY 25: DO YOUR WORDS BUILD?

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DAY 32: WHATS TASTY TO YOU?

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www.timcameronprayer.com

A lie will go round the world while the truth is putting its boots on.

CHARLES SPURGEON

M OST OF US understand the power of spoken words, at least to some degree, but itis likely uncharted territory for us to consider the power of fasting words, or notspeaking specific words. How could this be powerful? Scripture tells us very pointedly,We all err in many ways. But if any man does not err in word, he is a perfect manand able also to control the whole body (James 3:2). There are some fiercely unrulymembers in our bodies, but Gods Word says that if we tame our words, we can tameour body and mind. Thats powerful!

The taming of these unruly members of our bodythe tongue, the mind, the appetitepresentsa formidable challenge. However, the truth of Gods Word is, I can do all thingsbecause of Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). It is the truth that sets usfree. And herein lies part of the paradigm shift that will take place in our livesas we fast words. We move from what is true to the truth, from the seen to the unseen,from the physical to the spiritual, from the negative to the hopeful. We will quitliving in the past, allowing our failures, mistakes, and sin to paint our identitywith hopelessness. We will move into Gods intentions and promises for us. We willsee Gods kingdom come to earth in our midst.

Can you visualize the impact on your life if you could bridle your thoughts and body?This is Gods very intention for us, to destroy strongholds of poor self-image, negativespeculations, and every thought that is contrary to who we are in Christ.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue. The words that come out of our mouthsheal or hurt. They bring reconciliation or division. By our words men are calledinto their destiny and the life of the Lord is shared with others. By words dreamsare shattered.

You see, Satan is always out to destroy the essential purposes of God. Christs visionfor us as believers is that we might be one as He and the Father are one. Christknew our great love for one another would draw unbelievers into the kingdom as theywitnessed something their souls yearned for but could not find in the world: unconditionalacceptance and love. Satan uses these other kinds of words that come out of our mouthsjudgments,criticism, sarcasm, negativity, complaining, and gossipto keep this purpose ofGod at bay.

Words of blessing have a remarkable impact. Gentle words of blessing soothe the innerman. They are like cherry limeade with crushed ice on a sweltering summers day,refreshing the body and emotions. Words of encouragement bolster the will and activatehope in our lives. Each one of us yearns for motivating words of praise that infuseour self-worth. They stimulate our desire to actualize the unique potential God hasplaced in each one of us. Sunny, cheery words are protein to the spirit of a child,shaping the course of his or her life at such a tender age and having eternal impact.