Anybody up for a 40 Day Faith & Fitness Challenge??
Here are the deets…
- A 40 day Bible study through the First5 phone app (The Answers to Your Deepest Longings by Lisa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 Ministries Team) https://first5.org/
- A 40 day fast of something (or things) that will improve your level of fitness or health (example: fast from soft drinks, junk food, sugar, a certain tv show, a stressful environment, or whatever God lays on your heart – everyone selects their own fast)
- Starts next Mon, Sept 14th and goes thru the first week of November
- 40 days are counted as weekdays only – so you’re off on the weekends (or they can serve as makeup days if needed )
- We’ll do a private FaceBook group for support and encouragement. You can totally do it on your own without our FaceBook group, but it may not be as fun.
- To join just let me know you want to be added to the FaceBook group!!
We can totally do this!!!!
More about First5 & why I decided to do this:
I started using the First5 app when it first came out five years ago and I LOVE it!! The premise is giving your first 5 minutes each day to God’s Word. The app is free and has a short (5 min-ish) devotional on it each weekday. If you have more time and want to dig deeper, it gives you a scripture passage to read (usually no more than a chapter) and a more moments section for additional thoughts. A printed study guide is available for purchase but not necessary to use the app. They offer a video teaching on the weekend that you can watch if you want. It reviews and goes a little deeper into that week’s study. It is usually very good.
In the last five years we have covered the entire Bible one book and one chapter at a time. It’s been amazing. It’s not overwhelming and doesn’t give you so much in one sitting that you feel stressed and weighted, especially if you get behind and need to catch up. The First5 team decided to do this next 40 day Bible overview study before going back through the Bible chapter by chapter again. I have not done this particular study so I have no idea exactly what it will be like, but I am excited about it. I usually never buy the printed study guide but I decided I would for this one. I just feel like God is going to show up. I’m pumped and ready and want to share the experience with friends.
As for the fast, I was just needing some discipline in my life and this felt like a great time and a great study to commit to it. This study deals with our natural longings for purpose, freedom, security, rescue, redemption, fulfillment, identity, and Christ’s return and how we sometimes look to places (lessor loves) other than Jesus to fulfill them. As someone who tends to look to food and chocolate for comfort instead of my Jesus, I thought a fast would fit right in with the subject matter of the study.
Anyway, this is something I’m doing and I just thought it might be funner with friends. There is no declared winner or prize package. I’m just hoping to gather up a group of Jesus girls that want to encourage each other to grow in their journey of faith and fitness. Let me know if you want to play!
