Number 5: Media Fast

Remember Zeta’s story? She was the cool girl that started dating a jerk and turning into a giant ball of negativity who thought she was nothing. She thought that because she let her new jerk tell her that every day, dogging her out in front of everyone. She was trapped in a psych-prison of lies and it kept her down all the time.

The Word
The deal is – if you hear something long enough you believe it.
Truth becomes irrelevant.
Check out Judges 16: 1-22.

Did you see what happened to Samson?

He was a man, set apart by God since birth.

Samson had this strangth thing going, and he knew

God was with him. God was going to use Samson to help

free all of his friends and relatives because the Philistines

were keeping them down.

So what happened? Yeah, Samson knew

that he was set apart for God's work and that he was

strong, but her was more interested in clowning

around, using his gifts to get what he wanted and

not totally giving his life to God. He was forever

hanging out with people and doing things that

brought him down.

And remember, if you hear something long enough,

you will buy into it. Samson met Delilah. she was a major babe.

Samson so wanted to be loved and accepted by her more than any-

thing else. every day she nagged him about his strength. Every 

day she would tell Samson that if he loved her he would tell her

the secret. He listened to the junk Delilah was telling him, and he

bought into it. He broke.

Samson, this guy with insane

physical strength, was totally

destroyed because of who he lis-

tened to and what he allowed to

grow in his mind.

[WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN? IT AIN'T BRAIN SURGERY: "GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT."]

Journal This:

• What do you listen to most? what kind of music? who is it?
• What do you watch the most?
• What do you do the most? video games? web surfing and dot.com-ing?

Whatever you listen to and experience the most

will shape what you believe and what you do. It's

like this. If you absorb yourself in TV shows, it won't take long to

decided that you must not be normal if you are not a neurotic, homo-

sexual, work-a-holic, sex-addicted witch from a dysfunctional family.

that's stupid! Bet remember, truth is irrelevant, and you will

believe what you consistently hear.

Life Link!

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed

by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that

good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

(Romans 12:3)

The Thing.

It's time to push life.

HOW?

21 DAY MEDIA FAST.

What does that mean? No TV, no computer games, no surfin', and only music that talks about good stuff.

You know what we're talking about. If it talks about partying, romance, sex, drugs, or backin' any kind of

thang up -- it's out! Make it music that helps you focus on who God is.

Hey, quit whining! It's only 21 days. Mark it on your

calendar and count it down. this is improtant!!!

Why are we doing this? our thoughts get so junked because of all the stuff

we watch and listen to. It's time we take control of our own mind and what does in it.

Commit to this and you will be amazed at what

happens. it will be hard, but it will be worth it.

So cut out all the media stuff for the next 21 days. If you are in the house and

everyone is watching TV, go find sometheng else to do. No, not video games. Go

read. Hang out with your friends. Heaven forbid, talk to the parentals.

Ok, let's make a plan.

First commit to the 21 day fast.

Now, when you are jonesing for that TV or dot.com fix, what are you

going to do? (journal your plan)

What are some other things you could be doing?

What is the verse you need to focus on? (Life link)

Every time you want to chew on some media chunks, take out

your verse -- Romans 12:3. Read it and learn it.

What do you think will happen when you go on a 21 day media fast? What will change, or what

do you think you could get out of all of it? 

Give it up! Ask God to help you commit to the 21 day media fast. 

Ask Him to show you what He wants you to experience over the next 

21 days. write out a short prayer about it.