God First Challenge: Day 15-Commit and Continue!

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Day 15 Challenge:  Commit and Continue

Day 15 Scripture:  “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee:  because he trusteth in thee.”  Isaiah 26:3

 

Congrats!!! Woo Hoo!  You’ve made it to the end of the challenge! 

I hope by now you...

• Are getting up earlier
• Praying
• Have a morning motivational verse
• Have the verse displayed
• Have a morning routine established
• Found a solitary place
• Have someone(s) to hold you accountable
• Are keeping a journal or notebook
• Are Studying
• Are Meditating on God's Word
• Are Memorizing Scripture
• Are Putting on your Armor
• Have Prioritized
• Are Living Boldly for Christ

Now what?  Your last challenge is to commit and continue!  I hope that by now you have found a NEED and a DESIRE to get up and into God's Word first thing in the morning.  I also hope that you have someone(s) that will keep you accountable and encourage you along the way.

If you're not sure where to go from here then check out GMG.  We will start studying Colosians on Monday and then end this session Christmas. 

I hope this challenge has blessed you half as much as it has me. Now I'd love to hear from you... Anything I didn't mention that helps you put God first in your day?  How did the challenge go for you overall? Something you plan on committing to and continuing?  I certainly hope so because the only way to have that perfect peace is to keep your mind on Christ and strive each day to keep Him first! 

God First Challenge: Day 14 - Live it!

Day 14 Challenge:  Live it!

Day 14 Scripture: James 1:22

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”

We’re almost at the end of our challenge but here’s the thing…If you don’t do today’s challenge then the last two weeks have been in vain and utterly pointless. 

WHAT??  Shouldn’t you have told me this at the beginning?  Maybe so but you’ve came this far so don’t stop now…

LIVE IT!   Let’s not just wake up, study, and even ask God what He wants us to do with our day.  Follow through with what He tells us. 

Live out His Word. 

Make our choices based on what we’ve learned about His word.  Not on what society is telling us, not on what I tell you, not on what your parents have told you and not even on what your church leaders are telling you but on what HE has told you. 

I wanted to share this video from Francis Chan that's really stuck with me.  He makes a great point - one that I can easily relate to as a Mom!  I can only imagine how furious I would be if I told "Miss Priss" to go clean her room and she came back and told me she'd thought about, studied it, and even had some friends over and talked about it but didn't DO IT!!  Is that what we're I'm doing with God's Word? 

Let's apply this morning time to our life and LIVE  boldly for HIM!

It may not always be the EASY way but it’ll always be the BEST way even when we don’t see it at the time.

God First Challenge: Day 13-Prioritize!

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Day 13 Challenge: Prioritize

Day 13 Scripture:  "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you."  Matthew 6:33

I have some bad news and some good news for you.

Bad News:  If you’ve made it this far you’re probably really starting to get challenged!  Satan is probably starting to throw things at you (besides sleep) that are starting to keep you from getting up and spending those first few minutes of the day with God.    

Good News:  You’ve actually already beat this challenge!  Every morning that you’ve chosen to successfully get up instead of sleeping in you’ve chosen God over sleep.  Every morning that you’ve gotten your Bible and went to your solitary place you’ve chosen God over that cell phone or television. 

As you continue even after these 15 days you’re going to have to choose and prioritize every morning but the good news is you can do ALL things through Christ!

Prioritizing  and Simplifying have become almost synonyms for me.   This blog was actually a result of me really questioning my priorities and how I was spending my time.   This is further explained here.

Now when I hear someone say, “I just don’t have time for that.” Or “Sorry, I meant to _______ but I just didn’t have time.”  What I really hear is “It wasn’t a priority for me.” 

And sometimes that’s ok.  Sometimes I even smile to myself and think “I’m glad they have their priorities in order.”  Of course there are other times I think, “Get your priorities in order!”  May sound a little harsh to you but everyone that lives through today is going to have 24 hours.  The difference is what we CHOOSE to do with that time.  And (as I said in my first blog) whether you realize it or not how you spend your time is a direct reflection of your priorities.

So you may be getting to (or maybe already reached) the point where things are getting chaotic.  Where you really need to get some other things done in the morning or you really just need your sleep back. 

I challenge you to prioritize.  Realize what your priorities are then make sure your time is spent according to them.  If God really is your number one priority then it shouldn’t be such a problem to give him the first few minutes of your day.  Only then will you truly find happiness and peace.

God First Challenge: Day 12 - Put on Your Armour!

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Day 12 Challenge: Put on the Armour of God

Day 12 Scripture:  Ephesians 6:10-18, Matthew 4:1-11, Psalm 119:11

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Why are we studying and meditating each morning?  So that we are prepared for the battle and whatever the devil may throw our way.  Don’t leave what you’ve read, studied and meditated on in your solitary place but take it with you throughout your day! (And it’s a lot easier to take it with you it you’ve memorized it, right?)

I love reading about when Jesus was tempted by Satan.  Did you ever notice what his response was each time? 

It was the Word of God.  Each time Satan tempted him he started with “It is written…” followed by the scripture.  The Bible is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword.”  You really want to give Satan a good blow – then really know your Bible. 

One thing I’ve realized as I’ve gotten deeper into His word is how much easier it is to make a decision when you know what the Bible says about it.  God’s not the author of confusion.  His Word is plain and clear, black and white. 

You’ll be able to offer encouragement since you’ve already been encouraged.

You’ll be able to control your temper a little more.

You’ll have more peace about a situation.

You’ll have more patience when you are reminded each morning how much patience God’s had with you.

It’s amazing how the first 15 minutes of your day, if spent with the right person, can change the remainder of the day.  So I challenge you today - don’t leave your house or even begin your day without your sword…

God First Challenge: Day 11 - Memorize Scripture

Day 11 Challenge: Memorize Scripture/Post it Around the House

Day 11 Scripture:  Proverbs 6:20-22  “My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.  When thou goes it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.”

This is my weakest link. I try to memorize scripture. I mean really start out with good intentions but the older I get the harder it seems to really retain it! 

My main inspiration for memorizing scripture is my great-grandad. He lived to be 105 and was still preaching. He truly believed that retirement was up to God. God would call him home when He was ready for him to retire. When he first started preaching he couldn't read and my great-grandmother read Him the scriptures and he would memorize them. He later learned to read but then once his eyesight started to fail it didn't really matter because he had it all I'm his heart.  Even at 100 years old he could still quote chapters at a time.

There's so many reasons for memorizing scripture-to use in our defense against temptation, to encourage others.  Or you never know when we may no longer have a Bible or our own eyesight becomes to weak to read it.

I also love this verse for today's challenge.  Bind them continually on your heart, tie them about your neck - wherever you go have scripture with you.  On your heart, on your mind, even written down on index cards or placed somewhere you will see it often.  For me that's the best way to memorize it!

So I challenge you today find a scripture and memorize it! 

Maybe it's one that's become dear to you during this study. 

Maybe it's one that you need to know and recall often for this period of your life.

Maybe it's one that you need to know to encourage someone else. 

Whatever the reason find it and bind it!

God First Challenge: Day 10 - Meditate on Scripture

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Day 10 Challenge:  Meditate on Scripture

Day 10 Scripture: Joshua 1:8  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein:  for then thou shalt make the way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. Psalm 1:2

“Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.”  1 Timothy 4:15

Now you’ve dug a little deeper and read what God has to say about the issue – now dwell on it awhile! That’s one reason I love the SOAP method.  I like just taking a couple verses at a time and really letting them sink in-not just my head but my heart -letting God use His word to speak to me.  That’s just another one of the benefits of getting in God’s word first thing in the morning you have all day to meditate on it.

When talking about prayer earlier I mentioned taking some time to listen not just letting it all be about you talking.  It’s the same way with studying God’s word.  Don’t just read, read, and read some more but stop and listen to what God’s telling you through his Word.  If we're talking about God's Word being nourishment for our souls then let it be a delicious dessert and savour every last bite!

Our church presents each high school graduate with a new Bible.  When I received my Bible our pastor at the time told me that all I needed to study God’s word was a KJV Bible, a Webster’s dictionary and most importantly the Holy Spirit.  I can look back now and see just how right he was! 

Not sure what a verse means?  Ask the author-He’s there with you. 

Not sure how it applies to your life? Continue to seek His will and way through his word and prayer. 

I challenge you today to spend some time truly meditating and allow God’s word to come to life!

God First Challenge: Day 9-Study

 

Day 9 Challenge:  Study

Day 9 Scripture:  2 Timothy 2:15  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

There are two reasons this challenge is so important and life changing for me: (1) I need spiritual nourishment. (2) I need to study God’s Word and KNOW what it says.

I think that’s one of the main problems with our country today. We’ve all taken others’ at their word and their interpretations and trusted on that instead of truly studying God’s Word and knowing for ourselves what it says. Our morals and our standards are more influenced by society than God’s Word. If we truly want to see things change then change must start within us, within our family and our home, then to our community and so forth. And the way for things to truly change within us is to truly get in God’s Word and study. Don’t be ignorant concerning God’s Word!

One thing that has really helped me in my studying is the SOAP method. SOAP stands for –Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. I was introduced to this method through GMG. I like it because it’s easy yet thorough and effective! 

Scripture - you actually write down the scripture you read.  I like that I actually write down the scripture. There’s just something about writing it down that helps it to sink in a little more. 

Observation- To me the observation part is just the“digging a little deeper”. It usually includes what stuck out to me on a verse and other verse references. 

Application - Then the application part is how I can apply it to my life. It still amazes me how the Bible was written so many years ago yet is still so relevant today. 

Prayer -Then the last one is prayer. I usually start and end my bible studies in prayer. Praying over what I’ve read and asking God to help me truly apply it to my life and live it!

Here's an example of my SOAP sheet from James:

 

To read more about this method or to create your own SOAP journal online click here.

So I challenge you to really dig a little deeper in His Word today.  Maybe use a page of your journal and try out the SOAP method or maybe you have another method you like to use.  If so, then please share!

God First Challenge: Day 8-Keep a Journal or Notebook

My journal at the top- then my GMG notebooks

Day 8 Challenge: Keep a journal/notebook

Day 8 Scripture:  Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119:18

My son, forget not my law; but let  thine heart keep my commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.   Proverbs 3:1-2

 

 

Congrats you've made it half way through the challenge! Hope you're still hanging in there with me-if so I have a little giveaway at the end of this blog post!!!

So...

Getting up early - check

Motivational Scripture - check

Someone holding you accountable - check

Comfy, cozy quiet place - check

Now let's look at why/how we study.  Today's challenge is something I started the first day I begin getting up early. I wrote down the scripture I'd read and any notes/ideas God showed me.  I was doing it completely on my own at that time and studying the book of Nehemiah.  (great study and SO relevant to today). 

Within about 6 weeks of using my journal I discovered GMG and the SOAP method and I've been using it every since.  (I'll discuss the SOAP method in more detail tomorrow.)  With each study I've printed out the GMG study guides and made a binder. 

I now have the entire books of James, 1 John, and Ephesians along with Proverbs 31 completely written out with notes and how it can be applied to my life!  If you're looking for a study to do after finishing this challenge then I highly recommend GMG. They study begins September 17 and they already have the free study guide and a bookmark ready to download-just click the pic below:

 

 

 

Just in a year and a half I've been doing this I've already pulled back out some of the binders to look back over something.  It's a  wonderful resource to have so I encourage you to do the same!  Another great way to use your journal/notebook is for keeping a page of things you're praying for and a page for prayers answered. I'm a little slack on this one!

So in celebration of making half way through the challenge with me I'm giving away a journal!!!  Just leave me a comment here on the blog telling me how the challenge is going for you (it's ok-be honest!) and you'll be entered to win!  I'll choose someone using random.org and announce the winner on Tuesday, September 11th.

Good luck!

God First: Day 7-Find An Accountability Partner

Most of my GMG group

  

Day 7 Challenge:  Find an Accountability Partner

Day 7 Scripture:  Proverbs 27:17, Ecc. 4:9-10

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”  Proverbs 27:17

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.  For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow:  but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.”  Ecc. 4:9-10

It’s amazing how much more you can accomplish when someone’s holding you accountable.  For me it’s my Good Morning Girls Group. We contact each other every morning (Monday-Friday).  I have to admit there have been a couple mornings I’ve still been in bed and I get a notification from one of these inspiring ladies and it encourages me to get up but also puts some extra pressure knowing they’re expecting me to post too.             

I suggest finding at least one friend-maybe more-that you can text, e-mail or even as we did set up a private Facebook group page.  Even if it’s just a simple “I got up and in God’s word this morning!”  It’s a start!  Ours started out this way but now it’s “This is how I can apply this scripture to my life…” or “This part really stuck out to me…”  Every now and then we’ll even have a post end with “Sorry about the book this morning!”

Some of these ladies were really just acquaintances when we first started our group.  But over the past year and a half we’ve shared prayer requests, struggles and victories! They have come to be some of my closest and dearest friends and now I can’t imagine my life without them in it.  I pray that everyone will find ladies as committed and uplifting as I have!  For my complete “story” on how our GMG group was created read here.

So what are you waiting for?  Call, text, e-mail, or tweet someone today!  There are SO many ways to communicate now there really is NO excuse!! Do you have an accountability partner(s)?  How do you keep in touch?

 

 

 

God First Challenge: Day 6-Find Your Solitary Place

Day 6 Challenge:  Find your Solitary Place

Day 6 Scripture: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”  Mark 1:35

So now you’re up and have your routine which hopefully involves spending some time with God so now that you have your Bible in hand where are you going to read it?

 

 

The Bible says Jesus found a solitary place: a place where He could be alone; a place where it was quiet and peaceful.   No TV, no cell phones, no other distractions just you and God.  For me that is sometimes my swing or sometimes a chair but always somewhere on my front porch. First of all there’s just something about being outside.  Something about seeing God’s power in the sunrise just makes it a little easier to feel His presence.  Secondly, I’m just a sucker for a front porch. If the world had a front porch, right?  Or even if more people had front porches and used them like they used to…but that’s another post.

 

 

Find a place where you’re comfortable…

A place where you won’t be easily distracted…

A place where God can fill you up and prepare you for your day…

Maybe the porch, a closet, a spare room, that favorite comfy chair, inside or out…

Where’s your solitary place?

God First: Day 5 Challenge- Establish a Morning Routine

 

Day 5 Challenge:  Establish a Morning Routine

Day 5 Scripture:  Proverbs 3:5-6

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

So we’ve gotten the motivation to get up (still with me on that, right?) now what do we do?

I have a confession to make:  I - LOVE - routine.  I’m not a spontaneous person. Those days where I go straight down my list and check everything off in order make me VERY happy!  Of course, if you really get down to it those are the days that rarely happen but I enjoy it when they do.  You may call it boring but I call it a sense of accomplishment!

One thing I’ve learned is that I can get up early and start my day the way I want to or I can lay in bed and let my kids, husband, the telephone or some other outside source start it for me.  I prefer to get up and do what I want to do even if it is just for 15 minutes! Tsh Oxenreider says it much better than me in her book One Bite at a Time:  52 Projects for Making Life Simpler.

“A methodical morning routine is a great way to treat yourself to a little soul care.  Instead of starting your day by responding to the stimulus around you, you’re proactively creating the day you want to have.”

Treating myself and proactively creating the day I want to have…I like it!  She suggests keeping it simple and finding 5 things that are about you and feed your soul.  I’m all about making life simpler (just in case you didn’t know ;) 

Here’s my simple morning routine:

1.       Get out of bed

2.       Get a cup of coffee (this one is not much of an option being as I can’t really do anything else until I have my cup of coffee)

3.       Grab my Bible and go out to the porch

4.       Pray

5.       Enjoy my time in God’s Word over my cup of coffee J

 

My prayer is that from the moment I wake up I’m seeking God’s direction for my life and trusting Him to guide my steps.  I love those days when I’ve finished my devotional time and can just sit and meditate and add a number 6 – Ok God in what ways can I serve you today? 

 

So how about you?  Do you already have a morning routine?  And an even more important question -Does it reflect your priorities and get your day started off right?    I’d love to hear your 5.

God First: Day 4 Challenge- Display a Verse

Day 4 Challenge:  Display your Verse

Day 4 Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:3-9

“Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.  Hear, O Israel:  The Lord our God is one Lord:  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart.  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.  And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”  (emphasis added)

I’ve always loved words.  I love to read and I love to write.  As Helen Keller said “Literature is my utopia.” 

Recently I’ve developed (from my Mom) a love for displaying signs and favorite quotes around our home.  Here’s a few we have around our home:

 

It seems like there are times that God just turns my eyes in the direction of a certain quote or sign right when I need it.  There are other times I’ve intentionally placed a scripture or quote right where I know I need to see it!  Either way we can’t just read the Bible like any other book and expect to really gain from it.  We need to meditate on what we read.  We need to talk of them when we’re sitting at the kitchen table, or when we run into a neighbor on the street.  They need to be on our mind first thing when we get up and last thing before we go to sleep.  This scripture even tells us to write them on “the posts of thy house, and on thy gates”. 

Hopefully by now you have your motivational verse that’s going to help get you out of bed and into God’s Word in the morning.  Now I challenge you to post it somewhere you will see it when that alarm goes off.  You may want to “dress it up” or even frame it.  You may just want to write it on a post-it note and stick it to your clock.  Just put it somewhere you will see it and it will serve you as a reminder.

And for those of you whom really want a challenge – memorize it!  Write it upon your heart.  Call it to remembrance throughout the day.  The more we read, meditate, see and talk about scripture the more likely we are to LIVE it!

 

God First: Day 3 Challenge - Pick a Verse for Morning Motivaiton

Day 3 Challenge:  Pick a Verse for Morning Motivation

Day 3 Scripture:  Psalm 63



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If you are a Christian chances are you have a favorite verse or life verse as some call it.  (FYI:  Mine is Matthew 6:33.)  The challenge for today is to pick a verse that will motivate you in the mornings.  I did this a couple weeks into my morning readings; my verse is Psalm 63:1:

“O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee:  my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” 

Go ahead and read this whole chapter it’s a good one! 

Have you ever been really thirsty? I mean REALLY thirsty? The kind of thirsty where only water can quench that thirst.  Spiritually speaking have you ever been really down and out?  Really needed uplifted and encouraged?  Really needed hope when it seemed like all hope was gone?  Sure we’ve all been there.  And I can tell you you’re not going to find that hope, encouragement and peace out in the world.  Nope, no water out there.  That living water is going to have to come from within you.  (John 4:14)

Reading Psalm 63:1 reminds me that I need God to fill me up with what I’ll need for the day.  Now I challenge you to pray and ask God to give you a verse to guide you through this challenge.  He’ll show you one.  Maybe it’s this one, maybe it’s another verse that has a special meaning to you.  Maybe it’s a verse you never really let sink in until you started searching His word.  That’s how it was for me.  I’m sure I’d read Psalm 63 before but it has become a lot more meaningful for me over the past year.

Now that you’ve had a refreshing drink of water- bring on the day!!

God First: Day 2 Challenge-Pray!

My personal prayer spot

Day 2 Challenge:  Pray

Day 2 Scripture:  1 Thessalonians 5:17  “Pray without ceasing”;




James 5:16 "Confess your faults one ot another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

When I first started brainstorming and drafting these challenges I actually had “Pray” as a Day 6 Challenge.  Then when I got to writing Day 6 the Lord quickly showed me prayer needed to be moved up! I hope you prayed before you even started this challenge.  I feel quiet sure you prayed for strength before you drug yourself out of bed yesterday morning.  And I hope you will continue to pray everyday BEFORE you get into God’s word. 

The Bible is SO much more than just a book to be read.  It’s the only book meant to be read with the author present when you read it.  So before opening my Bible each morning I ask God to join me and show me what I need to get me through the day.  I ask Him just to fill me up spiritually for whatever I’m going to face because even though I don’t know what it may be – He does.

There’s SO much I could say about praying.  So many different directions I started in when I started writing this post but for the purpose of this challenge and starting off your day I decided on two things I wanted to share that I've learned about prayer. 

First of all, prayer is a conversation with God – It’s not my to-do list for God.  It’s a conversation between me and Him.  To have a conversation with someone involves both speaking AND listening.  So many times I wonder why God hasn’t answered my prayers then I realize that I haven’t been listening for His answers.

Secondly, it’s SO important to have your own prayer spot close by.  Mine is an oak tree in our back yard. Before our house was built, we lived in Louisiana. When I came home from Louisiana I'd usually take time to walk or ride the 4-wheeler over to where I wanted to build our home and pray under this tree that if it be God's will we'd come home and build a house here. The prayer was answered (praise God!) and we built the house and I started looking for a prayer spot. I really wanted a rock further from home but couldn't seemed to find one. One day I was walking with my ipod listening to a Beth Moore study and she asked "Where is YOUR prayer spot?". This was a difficult time right after I'd quit my job and I felt God drawing me back to my oak tree. I knelt down and prayed turning it all over to him. When I opened my eyes I saw an acorn and I realized that if God could take that acorn and make that HUGE oak tree he could take what little faith I had and accomplish great things. I picked up that acorn and it's still in my kitchen window as a reminder of how great my God is!  

I decided then that was my prayer spot and it was a good thing it was right at my back door!    

Anyone else have a special prayer place?