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Copyright 1994 by Tom Lomas
All rights reserved
ISBN: 1-883928-11-7
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 94-079778
Published by
Freedom Ministries, Inc.
PO Box 150206
Altamonte Springs, FL 32715
Introduction (Third Printing)............................ 5
Foreword............................................................. 9
1. Journey to A New Beginning............................ 15
2. What About Our Baggage? ............................. 25
3. Where Are We Going?..................................... 35
4. Change Partners............................................... 45
5. We Are Forgiven ............................................. 55
6. Forty Days in Your Desert............................... 63
Days One - Forty: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,
27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
7. A New You ..................................................... 133
8. Tap the Greatest Power .................................145
Epilogue.......................................................... 156
Note: Page numbers coincide with print copy.
(Third Printing)
Though this healing procedure is presented from the Christian perspective, it is important to realize the principles utilized transcend religion and thereby pertain to all of humanity regardless of religious tradition or lack thereof practiced by the participant. Please remember that religion is not God but is a vehicle to draw closer to God or our perception of God.
An addiction is anything which steals our freedom and self-control. All who are lost to addiction of any sort, whether its character be material, spiritual, or mental, have succumbed to a power which is destructive to humanity both individually and collectively. 40 Days to Freedom will immerse the reader in the Greatest Power in the universe to overcome any addiction. This Greatest Power may be known as Love, God, Higher Power, Mother, Father, Creator, or any of many different names. The terminology is unimportant. What is important is the access of the individual to this Healing Source which is omnipresent, all-powerful, and always available to the religious and non-religious alike. This Greatest Power Source will always respond to the heart-felt, sincere seeking of any person.
The force of evil referenced as "Satan" can also be known by many names. We encourage the reader to not get hung up on any terminologies which differ between belief systems. The potentials for good and evil reside in the heart and mind of every person. The more we immerse ourselves in the Greatest Power, the more easily we will see the truth which will set us free.
At the writing of this introduction (2004), the author has been free for fourteen years from the addiction which plagued his life until age fifty. We speak here not of controlling compulsion but its total and irreversible eradication and elimination. Additionally, the author has repeated the procedure many times to eliminate other harmful traits and instill healthful habits as well. The testimonies of healing from many others who were lost to addiction and depression can be read at http://40days2freedom.org.
Before starting the forty day procedure (Chapter Six), seek to identify the addiction which is the most enslaving. Careful reflection while reading the early chapters will help in this analysis. Also a prayerful attitude, enlisting the help of the Greatest Power Source, is important. By attacking our greatest enemy first, later victories over lesser enemies will be more easily won; and our freedom realized will cause us to experience heaven on earth.
Remember this: society presents many cures and methods for overcoming and controlling compulsive behavior; but only by making the Greatest Power in the universe our own can we attain true and lasting freedom. This Power is real and available to every person on earth. As we will experience in this book and procedure, the path to receiving this Greatest Power is through surrender, not effort. Then the Power is free to work in and through us. There is no danger of becoming addicted to the Power as it will never violate our free will.
May you experience a blessed and victorious journey during your reading of this miracle book.
In love and truth,
Tom Lomas
by Blair Steelman, The Second Healing
It all started with a game of golf. It was one of those particularly abysmal rounds of golf that lead to lunch and commiseration at the 19th hole, better known to those not afflicted with the mental disorder of enjoying golf as the snack bar. My golfing buddy for the day was a kindred spirit I had met, where else, playing golf. One topic of conversation turned to another until my friend was talking about a book he had written called 40 Days to Freedom. The heretofore anonymous golfer I am talking about is Tom Lomas, whose book you are about to read.
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Tom proceeded to tell me about the lifelong addiction that he had and how he had been led to embark on the first 40 Days to Freedom journey, its healing results and his ensuing inspiration to write this book. Although a skeptic by nature, I was impressed with Tom's ease and openness as he unfolded his story. I was also dumbfounded because of the fact that I had dealt with (make that repressed) the same addiction myself for most of my life. The more he talked, the more I wanted to experience my own 40 Days to Freedom. So, on the way home, we stopped at this office and Tom gave me a draft copy of 40 Days to Freedom. Thus armed, I began my own forty day journey the next morning.
After finishing my first day's reading, meditation and prayer, which, incidentally, takes only a couple of minutes, I wondered if at some point down the line there would be a profusion of light streaming though my window or the sound of cosmic trumpets announcing that I had been miraculously changed and that the load that I had been carrying had been lifted from my shoulders or, conversely, would this work at all?
What did happen was none of the above! Rather, the process for me was like that of an athlete in training. The first day's workout does not prepare him or her to run the race or play the game. However, by working out diligently each day, a time will come when that
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athlete will know he or she is ready. That was my experience. Somewhere along about the twenty-fifth day or so, I began to feel a little different. Things that used to get my attention no longer did, and upon a little reflection it became obvious why. I was using the same process that Jesus used. After being baptized by John, He went off into the desert to fast and to pray for forty days to conform Himself to the will and understanding of the Father. Because of that He was able to resist the temptations of the world as offered by the adversary and preform His earthly ministry. No wonder I was getting some results! I was also doing what Paul taught in his letter to the Romans in chapter twelve verse two, "Do not conform any longer 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." (NIV)
So what can 40 Days to Freedom do for you? That, I would say, is mostly up to you. It gave me insight and peace. 40 Days to Freedom is like anything else that is successful in this life; it is a process. It is not a quick fix. It is a wonderful vehicle for transformation. The transforming agent is the unconditional love of God that is always flowing out to us. What each of us must release is the attachment of our ego and the
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passing pleasures and lures for the physical world. We must no longer be conformed to the world or our old ways of doing things.
No matter what you seek from 40 Days to Freedom, whether it's a release from an addiction or a great way to renew your mind and spirit at the beginning of a new year, I heartily recommend the investment of your time and effort. May you find all that you seek as you begin your 40 Days to Freedom.
Blair Steelman
Journey to A New Beginning
This message is for those of us who are hopeless and desperate and out of control, and for those who think they're in control yet are unhappy or not fulfilled, and for those wonderfully happy people who realize they still have room for growth, improvement and fulfillment. Does someone or something else control my mind, my thoughts? Oh, not all the time, I rationalize. But if I'm honest with myself for just a minute, I realize my problem affects every aspect of my life - my relationships with others, my work, my spiritual life, my success in life. I realize I am not in control of my life.
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Suppose I'm not out of control; I don't have a monster within. I'm a normal, happy person. This message isn't for me, right? Wrong! My normal situation does put me at a disadvantage since desperation and open-mindedness so often go hand-in-hand. I may see what is presented here as a challenge to my status-quo. But if I am truly a happy person, nothing here will threaten me. Instead it will only add to that happiness and I can anticipate greater fulfillment. But if my happiness is shallow, comes in flashes, doesn't last, if I am incomplete, there is a great challenge here - the challenge to discover true, lasting happiness that can never be taken from me. This lasting happiness can only be attained by fulfilling the purpose for my humanity. The keys to a happy, successful life through self-control and personal fulfillment will be presented in these pages.
Before I go any further, let me air one point critical to benefiting from this writing. I should also add that this reading may be for the benefit of someone you know, perhaps someone close to you, a friend or a family member. The point we must establish is self-honesty. We must be absolutely honest with ourselves. Why would I stress this? So often people with deep-rooted, obsessive problems blame their misfortunes on other people or circumstances or bad luck - anything but themselves.
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You see, if I am to purge myself of this problem, I must first admit to myself that the problem is within me. The problem is not me; it is within me. The problem is despicable, disgusting, ugly. I am beautiful, loved (more on this later), a masterpiece. I cannot be other. Again, the problem is within me; I have it. It may be very deeply entrenched but the problem is not me.
This self-honesty also includes believing we are curable. No matter how we have been indoctrinated in the past, we are curable. No matter what our obsession, bad habit, perversion, insanity, or demon, if we can comprehend the written word, we are curable. To believe otherwise is a cop-out, a surrender to our worst enemy. How can this be true? We will invoke the greatest power in the universe. Nothing can withstand it. But first we must be honest with ourselves.
Have you ever noticed that when people are intoduced, after the name, the occupation is the most desired information about the person? What does a person's occupation or profession really tell us about that person? Not a whole lot. It may give us some insight into their financial status or, perhaps, interests, although a lot of people hate their occupations and may have their main interests outside of their livelihoods. The real person will not be revealed simply by occupation. The real person will be revealed when we discover how much he or she cares for other people.
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The same can be said for external appearance. We may see beauty on the outside but this may be a mask for what lies within, the real person. People are very good at masking and keeping their true selves a secret. Are we such people? Could I be afraid to reveal the true me? Do I pretend to be someone I am not? Am I ashamed of the real me beneath the facade?
If I am ashamed, I need to listen carefully. The me beneath the facade is not me! Each of us is a masterpiece, a unique creation of the master Creator, something to feel good about. If I don't feel good about me, it's because someone or something is trying to enslave me to ugliness.
Another Someone still believes in us, no matter what our past. Someone wants to bring us back. Someone loves us so much He'll follow us to the depths of hell to bring us back, to nourish and heal us, and to break our chains of enslavement. He'll give us a freedom we've never known before (or perhaps it is so far in our past that we've totally forgotten). And, once set free, we'll owe no debt to our redeemer. In fact, after the gift of our freedom, He will shower many more gifts upon us if we want them. The price? Simply that we want them and agree to accept them. And these gifts are far better than anything we have ever received before. The first gift is our freedom. Are we ready to start receiving? Then let's begin.
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The key to lasting happiness will be passed to us. Read this book in sequence. Don't jump ahead to find the key quickly. That won't work. This is important since we are given a plan of action that starts with a preparation followed by a challenging yet fulfilling forty-day journey. Don't worry. We won't have to get time off from work. We'll take tis most amazing journey of our life during our regular daily routine. Then we'll have a post-trip briefing which will allow us to continue this wonderful journey for the rest of our life to its ultimate, glorious destination.
So, again, if we want the full benefit from this experience, read in sequence. We must make a determined, conscious effort to trust, to believe, to hope just one more time. If something within tells us "hogwash", that something must be defeated if we are to be free. We must dare to trust and be vulnerable just one last time.
Do we at times feel all alone in the world? Do we feel as if everyone is against us or that no one understands us? This is a terrible feeling but there is good news: we never have to be alone again! Someone is always with us, is always watching, is always there for us, and always understands us. This someone is God. He is our parent and He is our partner - that's right, our partner. He has vested stake in our every thought and action because He wants only the best for us.
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God will not manipulate us. His love for us ia so complete He has given us the freedom to refuse Him. But He's always there, always waiting for our call, anxious to answer. We can call on Him whenever we need a friend. But don't expect Him to answer our call on our terms. Remember He is God and only wants what is best for us, so we must allow Him to answer on His terms. Then we can trust that the answer will always be right for us. It may not be the answer we desire since, as humans, we don't always want what is best for ourselves.
Have we ever been in partnership with someone? Perhaps a business or investment partnership comes to mind; but there are other types of partnerships, such as marriage or friendship. It's tough for partnerships of all types to survive nowadays with equality such a big issue. Do we really believe humans can ever create true equality? Too often, petty jealousies arise, where one partner feels he's doing more work than the other or feels the other partner is receiving more than his share of the rewards.
Lucky for us, our partnership with God is on a different scale. I think of God as my senior partner who has responsibility for providing me with guidance, direction, strength, motivation, ideas, persistence and much more. What's my responsibility to the partnership? To have faith in Him, faith in His existence, faith in His Word, faith in His love for me. Just imagine having a partner who wants to take more and more of our burden onto His shoulders, whereas His primary reward is our happiness.
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Perhaps this has not been our experience. We haven't felt that God is our partner. Perhaps the existence of some other partner or partners has interfered with with our relationship with God. The past is history. It cannot be changed so don't let it disturb us. In our hand is the key to unlock a new beginning, a new partnership, a new me. Let's give ourselves a chance.
Perhaps we have searched for freedom in religion, with psychiatrists or psychologists, by changing geography, changing careers or even changing mates. Perhaps we've even contemplated suicide, since nothing else has worked and we feel so alone and empty. Oh sure, maybe a strategy seemed to work for a while; we thought we had the answer but it didn't last. I've been there. I've walked in the shoes of the person not in full control of his thoughts and actions and not in love with the person he sees in the mirror.
I am here now to state that each one of us is like a precious, beautiful pearl in God's eyes and we can be free! We can be in full control of our thoughts and actions. Risk it! Just imagine if I'm right! Totally free, totally healed, totally in control of our thoughts and actions for the first time in our life. This is the greatest gift we will ever receive. Trust just one more time. We will not fail. The method will not fail for it was invented by the One who is infallible.
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After experiencing our forty days, we will be free to do anything we wish. But be forwarned: What we wish to do now and what we wish to do after attaining our freedom may be entirely different. There is a purpose for our existence, a reason for our being here. We may even be aware of it yet are unable to fulfill it. It's actually quite simple since we were all born to love one another. This is our prime directive. This is what God wants us to do in our own unique circumstance.
This love, the only real, true love, is a love of giving, not getting. It is synonymous with charity, but not in a non-condescending way. But how? How do we love others? In every way we can. Be especially mindful of the special gifts or talents God has given us. They have a purpose in serving Him. If we are ready and open to their use, God will allow the opportunities for their use. But we may not be ready.
A lot has happened from our birth to now to block our lines of communication with our Creator. Our intent here is to help us remove the major obstacle to our fulfillment of the best life we can live, to help us create a new person who isn't really new but simply the real person who has been hidden from others and ourself for a long time.
True, lasting happiness is rooted in serving God by loving each other. This is the reason we are all here. This is why any happiness which comes from getting is shallow and fleeting. We are all on a quest for happiness, fulfillment and freedom. Isn't it amazing that all three are attained with the same answer? Love! Now it's time to unlock the real me, the loving me, and eliminate all that stands in the way of our true happiness and fulfillment in life.
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End of Chapter One Prayer
My Lord, look on Your creation and have pity. Open my mind, my eyes, my ears, my heart, and let me receive Your healing counsel. I know that You are the source of all that is good and beautiful; yet I have closed my heart to You. I pray that You will remove all obstacles between us that I may come to know and serve You again. For to know and serve You is to find the everlasting peace and happiness and fulfillment for which my soul yearns.
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