Discover why living counterintuitive to the world leads to true freedom and success, plus practical steps to embrace this mindset today.
In this message, we explore why living counterintuitive to the world can be a powerful path to personal freedom and lasting success. Most people follow societal norms without question, but true growth often comes from thinking differently and challenging conventional wisdom. Learn practical steps to adopt a counterintuitive mindset that helps you break free from limiting beliefs and create the life you truly want. Whether you want to improve your mindset, career, or relationships, this guide will inspire you to think outside the box and live authentically. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more insights!
Trevor H Lund is an encourager, writer, and authorpreneur dedicated to helping people discover peace, joy, and hope in all circumstances. He encourages others through his blog, podcast, and live casts at revtrev.com, shares his writing at trevorlund.com, and teaches in Live LIGHT Academy at livelight.ca.
Learn more about the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge at https://revtrev.link/fast
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When I used to do more speaking in other churches and it was a new church for me, I would start with a game so people could get to know me.
“3 Truths and a Lie” . Admittedly this made some pastors nervous—you don’t want a guest speaker to tell you he’s going to lie to you. So let’s call it “discernment practice”.
We’ll see today who either knows me best, knows people best, is operating with discernment OR needs to learn how to discern. Let’s have a little fun with this.
I’m going to tell you 4 statements about myself—three of them are true, one of them is false— and then we’ll go through them again and you can vote on the one you think is the false.
I believe in ghosts—I am one.
I secretly trained as a ninja.
I won a contest by stuffing 26 marshmallows in my mouth and saying “Chubby Bunny”
A world government has categorized me as an alien.
Put up your hand for the one you think is a fabrication.
Focus on “A world government has categorized me as an alien.”
Amplified Bible 1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers in this world to abstain from the sensual urges, those dishonourable desires, that wage war against the soul. Keep your behaviour excellent among the unsaved Gentiles, conduct yourself honourably, with graciousness and integrity, so that for whatever reason they may slander you as evildoers, yet by observing your good deeds they may instead come to glorify God in the day of visitation, when He looks upon them with mercy.
We need to live as aliens and strangers in this world. Look at what Paul tells the Galatians:
Galatians 5:16-26 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.
When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Can I pray?
Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.
Sermon on the Mount Matthew - 5:1- 7:29
(19 minutes)
16 Counterintuitive ways to live Jesus gives us in the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5
1. Rejoice when persecuted for righteousness (5:11–12)
2. Let your light shine but do good works quietly (5:16; 6:1–4)
3. Need to Out-righteous the self-righteousness (5:20)
4. Anger equals murder in God’s eyes (5:21–22)
5. Lust equals adultery (5:27–28)
6. Radical action against sin is required (5:29–30)
7. Do not resist an evil person; turn the other cheek (5:39)
8. Go the second mile (5:41)
9. Love your enemies and pray for persecutors (5:44)
Matthew 6
10. Give, pray, and fast in secret (6:1–18)
11. Forgive to be forgiven (6:14–15)
12. Do not lay up treasures on earth (6:19–21)
13. Do not worry about your life (6:25–34)
Matthew 7
14. Do not judge, or you will be judged (7:1–2)
15. Remove the log from your own eye first (7:3–5)
16. Enter only by the narrow gate (7:13–14)
Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.
I’ve found 9 other counterintuitive teachings that Jesus gave us specifically on the Kingdom of God.
9 Counterintuitive Teachings of the Kingdom
Jesus gives several counter-intuitive teachings specifically about the Kingdom of God throughout the Gospels. These teachings challenge conventional wisdom about power, status, wealth, and inclusion. Here are some of the key examples, with references:
1. The Greatest in the Kingdom Is the Servant of All
Mark 9:35; Mark 10:43–44; Matthew 20:26–27; Luke 22:26 “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35)
“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant… and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.” (Mark 10:43–44)
2. You must Enter the Kingdom as a child
Matthew 18:1–4; Luke 18:16–17; Mark 10:14–15 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3–4)
3. The Kingdom Belongs to the Poor and Persecuted
Luke 6:20; Matthew 5:3, 10 “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20) “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)
4. The Kingdom Is Given to Outsiders and Sinners
Matthew 21:31–32 “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
5. In the Kingdom Those Who Are Last Will Be First
Matthew 19:30; Matthew 20:16; Luke 13:30 “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”
6. The Kingdom Is Like a Mustard Seed or Yeast—Starts Small, Becomes Great
Matthew 13:31–33; Mark 4:30–32; Luke 13:18–21 “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed...though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants.”
7. The Kingdom Is Hidden and Costly—Worth Giving Up Everything
Matthew 13:44–46 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field…in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”
8. It’s Hard for the Rich to Enter to the Kingdom
Mark 10:23–25; Matthew 19:23–24; Luke 18:24–25 “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
9. Not Everyone Who Says ‘Lord’ Will Enter the Kingdom
Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.
Kingdom of God is nothing like any Kingdom this world has ever seen. It where the poor in spirit inherit the Kingdom, where the mourners are comforted, the merciful are shown mercy, and the peacemakers are called the Sons of God. It’s a kingdom where those who are insulted, persecuted, and lied about will be blessed.
It is a Kingdom where the first will be last and the last will be first; where the those who wish to save their life must first abandon it; where life comes only through dying, success only through taking up the cross daily.
In this kingdom, the children are valued and the greatest will be those who are the servants of all. The poor will say that they are rich, the weak will be strong, the blind will see, the lame will walk, the mute will shout for joy. The sick be healed. The lepers will be cleansed. Demons will be cast out. The dead will be raised.
Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.
Now you might be thinking “But Kingdom sense is common sense to me?”.
You may have been in the kingdom so long you’ve begun to think God’s thoughts yourself. If so that’s great, we all need to get there, all of the time.
Or maybe you’ve never understood what this Kingdom is all about.
Do you know how Jesus tells us we can enter the Kingdom of God?
7 Counterintuitive Keys to Enter the Kingdom
1. Become Like a Child (Humility and Trust)
Matthew 18:3; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17 “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Humble, dependent, and trusting posture is required.
A 4-year-old laughs 300 times a day and a 40-year-old laughs about four.
I want to be more like His child. When we laugh it shows us we’re trusting God as our good Father. Trust the trustable and laugh at your circumstances.
How often do I find myself laughing?
2. Repent and Believe
Mark 1:15 John said, “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”
Confession (agreeing with God that what He calls sin is sin.) Repentance (changing your mind and turning from sin) are foundational.
Please don’t think it’s one and done. It’s repentance every time Holy Spirit convicts us of something that’s counter to the Kingdom.
If His Kingdom is wherever His will is done and if my life doesn’t line up with His will, I need to agree with Him and repent.
Let me give you an example. I found myself complaining about decisions of different politicians have been making that look like anything but wisdom. I’ve heard some sermons (not here - out there) that look like anything but wisdom—and that tends to offend me, so I complain.
And one day as I was reading the Bible two verses jumped out at me:
1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people.Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
1 Timothy 2:2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
And I realized I needed to repent. I needed to turn around and do the exact opposite. So every politician I complained about I started asking God to help them, interceding for them and giving thanks for them. It’s amazing how out of line I was with the Kingdom rule in my life. When I complain about anyone, I need to repent and remember to ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf and give thanks for them.
When I did that for politicians I actually started seeing them as people God loves.
Since we live by the Spirit we need to keep in step with Holy Spirit. Follow those leadings that poke wholes in your practice.
Is there anything you feel Holy Spirit is encouraging you to turn from and do the exact opposite in?
3. Be Born Again
John 3:3-7 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?” Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’”
Spiritual rebirth—renewal by God’s Spirit—is essential.
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
God wants you to become more and more like Jesus.
Am I becoming more and more like Jesus?
4. Do the Will of the Father
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
True obedience, not just words or outward religion.
What do we know is God’s will for us?
Be Holy. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Live Honourable. 1 Peter 2:15
Always be joyful, never stop praying and always be thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
And since we live by the Spirit we keep in step with the Spirit.
Am I quick to hear and quick to obey what Holy Spirit tells me to do?
5. Have a Righteousness Greater Than the Self-Righteous
Matthew 5:20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”
This is possible only by the grace of God.
His grace empowers use to do what we can’t do on our own.
By his grace we are saved Ephesians 2:8–9, Acts 15:11, Titus 2:11, we are justified Romans 3:24, Romans 5:15–17, we have our inheritance Romans 4:16, are given our gifts and ability to serve Romans 12:6, Ephesians 3:7, and our identity and calling 1 Corinthians 15:10.
His grace empowers use to do what we can’t do on our own. We can only have a righteousness greater than the self-righteous by His grace.
Can I say, by the grace of God, I am what I am and His grace to me was not without effect?
6. Detachment yourself from worldly riches
Matthew 19:23–24; Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
Bad sermon preached on camel going through the “Eye of the needle”. There was no hole in any city wall for camels to get through when the gates were closed. That illustration comes from an archbishop in the 14th century (Archbishop Thomas Bradwardine). Luke uses the word for surgical needle.
Jesus was saying a literal camel getting through a literal eye of needle. He wanted us to know we need to have a willingness to let go of everything else for Jesus. It’s not about being wealthy. It’s about what you are trusting in. You can have no money and be more occupied with it than someone is who has wealth and put their trust in God.
Am I willing to lay down anything God wants me to?
7. Have faith in Jesus
Acts 4:12 “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
Entrance is ultimately through trust in Christ Himself.
Is Jesus my King? Is He Lord of my life?
Kingdom sense isn’t common sense. Live counterintuitive.
The Problem
The problem is that it’s not the Kingdom that is counterintuitive, it’s the world that has been corrupted.
Kingdom sense isn’t common sense is maybe better said:
Common sense isn’t Kingdom sense.
You can’t think about things the way the world does.
You aren’t led by fear, you’re led by compassion.
You don’t measure success with material things but by the peace you feel when you trust in God.
You take your worries and don’t magnify them but in prayer and lament exchange your problems for his peace.
How do you practically live counterintuitive?
How do practice all this? Look at this verse in Romans 12:2:
Romans 12:2 (NIV): "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
By not conforming to the pattern of the world.
By the renewing of your mind.
By testing and approving His will
Renewing your mind. Not conforming to the world. Doing His will.
Remember that because it’s how we align ourselves to Kingdom thinking.
Renew your mind, don’t conform to the world and do His will.
How do we align ourselves to counterintuitive Kingdom thinking?
That’s a great question. I have a practical solution for you. It will help you renew your mind, not conform to the world and do His will.
The Solution
How about the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge?
The challenge helps us to : renew your mind, not conform to the world and do His will.
I want to invite you to participate in the Inaugural Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge.
Ash Wednesday February 18 – Monday April 6, 2026
A Negativity Fast Challenge is something anyone can do and something every Christian should do.
Let me give you some background first.
In 2006 I ran my first Negativity Fast. I had a friend come up to me before a service and tell me a vision she had of huge wave of negativity crashing on our city, specifically against our church. I told her to go talk to the pastor.
But during worship I had a word pop in my head —“Negativity Fast”. I had never heard of it before so I searched for it. The first 20 pages of Google didn’t have one reference to a Christian organization promoting a negativity fast. It was filled with gurus and new age practitioners talking about the benefit of fasting from negativity and it ticked me off.
At the break of the service I went up to the pastor and my friend was talking to him about her vision. I said “We should run a negativity fast. I’ll write 40 daily emails and people can sign up for them so they can start thinking God’s thoughts about them. We can start in two weeks.”
And in two weeks I had most the email written and the email list off and running. Over the years God did some amazing things.
A vicar in England created a small group study based on the material. A youth leader in the US developed a youth curriculum. Oprah encouraged her fans to do a negativity fast and RevTrev.com negativity fast outranked her site and I had over 10,000 people sign up for the emails.
I decided to give up negativity for Lent, and started running the fast for 46 days. Lent is 40 days, but Sundays don’t count. I don’t think you should be negative on Sundays so I ran it straight through…and added an extra day to celebrate. I added daily reflections and created a course because I’d always have people asking for a day or two they deleted from the emails that got sent out.
Two years ago I did my first 70-Day Gratitude Challenge and it change my life. I knew I had to change the Negativity Fast into a Challenge. So on the 20th anniversary of the first Negativity Fast, I’m launching the first Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge.
It will help you to: Renew your mind, Not conform to the world Do His will.
The challenge is that everyday for 47 days:
Be Mindful - (Renew your mind)
Be Grateful - (Don’t conform to the world)
Be Kind - (Do His will).
The Negativity Fast Challenge is something anyone can do and something every Christian should do.
For Christians, I have developed the Live LIGHT 47-Day Gratitude Challenge Course. You can sign up for this for free during the campaign.
Be Mindful.
Every day for 47 days I have Reflections and Devotionals to help you think God’s thoughts for you.
Be Grateful.
Every day for 47 days I have gratitude prompts to help you decide to give thanks, feel gratitude and show appreciation.
Be Kind.
Every day for 47 days I have kindness prompts to help you show kindness to people you love and strangers God loves so your light shines before people so they can see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
You can sign up for free at https://revtrev.link/fast
Now if you don’t want to have the course. I’ve also developed this Challenge as an Open Edition and Faith Edition. I personally think the Faith Edition is easier and more fun, but I better explain why either will be bring benefits to participants.
Open Edition of the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge
This is the OPEN EDITION. This is for anyone who doesn’t want to bring God into it. It’s perfect for family and friends who you’re praying for. Get them to practice the Kingdom before entering the Kingdom.
Be Mindful.
8 Things to Say to Yourself Before you Get Out of Bed Each Morning
1. Today is going to be a great day. 2. Something amazing is going to happen to me. 3. No matter what happens, everything is figureoutable. 4. An exciting new chapter of my life is starting today. 5. I’ve changed from the person I once was and I’m becoming who I really am. 6. I am allowed to be a work in progress. 7. If I keep showing up, good things will find me. 8. I have an important contribution to make to my world today.
Mel Robbins - If you want to know how each statement impacts us I have a free book “How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge” available at https://revtrev.link/fast
Be Grateful.
Gratitude Strategy - Remember to do three things:
Decide to give thanks.
Feel grateful for what you give thanks for.
Show appreciation for what or who you feel grateful for.
Be Kind.
Be Kind Conversation Strategy - Let compassion lead you, you can’t fake it.
In the first 30-seconds of any conversation, genuinely compliment, uplift and encourage the person you’re talking to.
Faith Edition of the Live LIGHT 47-Day Negativity Fast Challenge
This is the FAITH EDITION - This gets more fun. It’s less on you and more on God.
Be Mindful.
Before you get out of bed, read or recite the following:
Morning Prayer Declaration.
Today is going to be a great day. God is going to bless me with something amazing. My eyes are open and expectant for every treasure He has for me to find. No matter what happens, everything is figureoutable. He will finish the good work He’s started in me and empower me to accomplish every good work prompted by faith. I have an important contribution to make to my everyday world today. Today is the day He has made I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Where do we get this from? It’s Scripture. Download the free book “How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge” available at https://revtrev.link/fast
Be Grateful.
Give thanks with your whole heart - Ask Holy Spirit what He wants you to feel gratitude for.
Decide to give thanks.
Feel grateful for what you give thanks for.
Show appreciation for what or who you feel grateful for, knowing it’s God’s will for you to give thanks always. (see 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Be Kind.
Be Kind Conversation Strategy - Let compassion lead you. Ask the Father what He loves about the person in front of you.
In the first 30-seconds of any conversation, genuinely compliment, uplift and encourage the person you’re talking to.
How to do the Negativity Fast Challenge with Others
Do you want to do it friends and family or co-workers? You can do the Negativity Fast Challenge with others whenever you want. Here’s some tips to help with that.
FAST
F - Figure out who you’ll do it with
A - Agree to a season that works for everyone (it’s 47 days)
S - Strategize how you’ll support each other (FB group? weekly coffee? daily group chats?)
T - Together Decide to: Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.
I’ve printed out Bookmarks that you can duplicate and give out.
Conclusion
You need to live counterintuitive to the world. Our thoughts cannot be their thoughts. We can’t afford to have a thought in our heads that isn’t God’s. We won’t conform to the patterns of this world but will be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then we’ll be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good pleasing and perfect will.
Will you live as an alien and stranger in this world? Will you let Holy Spirit Guide your lives. What He’s saying about Being mindful, being grateful and being kind as you prepare for Easter?
Will you pick up this challenge?
Be Mindful. Be Grateful. Be Kind.
I’m starting this Wednesday, will you join me?
Can I pray?
