This blog has sure helped to motivate me and keep me accountable in our September Savings Challenge and I hope it has been some help to you as well. Lately I've been thinking how consistently doing something for 30 days can help us change our attitudes, habits, and hopefully carry over throughout the year. I started thinking of what habits I'd like to develop and how I might be able to use this blog as a motivating factor. But, what should I focus on next?The sermon I heard this morning at church was like a gift-wrapped in-your-face HERE YOU GO sign from God about what habit (or lack thereof) I need to tackle. The sermon was about spending time in God's Word. I started the "Read through the Bible in a Year Challenge" at our church, but got behind after a month or two and never picked it up again. For me, being able to focus on a shorter period of time-30 days-and being accountable to you all (the small number of people who read this blog) will help motivate me. So, I plan on choosing a 30-day "track" and blogging about the readings each day in October. Anyone else up for joining me?
Here are some plans you can print:
- 30 Days with Jesus
- 30 Days for New Christians
- 30 Days in the Psalms & Proverbs
- 30 Stories You've Probably Never Heard
- Read through the entire New Testament in 30 days
Bibleplan.org will let you choose a plan and have the daily reading emailed to you.
Another option is to start (or continue where you left off) a year-long program or a daily devotional and just commit to doing it for the first 30 days of the plan. Hopefully that is long enough to form a habit so you can finish your larger goal. The idea is to get into God's Word every day for 30 days. Choose a plan that's right for your Christian journey and something that stretches you a bit, but won't discourage you. If it's 5 minutes a day for 30 days, that's great. Sometimes the small steps are the ones that stick with us the best.
I am going to be committing to the New Testament in 30 days plan. The reason I think this is possible is that my husband received The Listener's Bible, ESV, read by Max McLean on CDs as a gift last year. I spend 70-80 minutes each weekday commuting and currently listen to audio books from the library in the car. I also usually walk the dog for 30-45 minutes each day on the weekends and currently listen to books on my mp3 player. With a little planning, I could easily put these CDs on my mp3 to listen on the weekends too. My goal will be to listen to the daily plan, then get out my Bible at night to do some further study using the notes and references and finally blogging about a verse or idea that God used to speak to me that day.
In the few remaining days of September, I encourage you to pray about whether you want to participate in some sort of daily Bible reading plan in October. Leave me a comment if you want to share which plan you'll be using. Hopefully we can encourage and motivate each other!
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3 comments:
Hi,
I am very interested in joining you in your October Bible Challenge! I have been very slack in my study of God's word, for quite some time and really want to develope a good habit of daily reading...like I used to! I decided to do a "Read the Gospels in a Month" challenge. That will be 3 chapters in one day. I hope I don't find that to much. It will be great to check in here and hear of your progress. I'm hoping it will make me more accountable! Wishing you many blessings as you delve into God's word!! :)
Searching4-
Thanks so much for commenting! I am so glad you are going to join us! Feel free to chime in throughout the month on how you are doing and what you are learning!
What an awesome idea! Thanks for your encouragement and resources. I had been trying to "pray" through some Psalms lately, so I'm going to try the "30 days in the Psalms". I look forward to your comments/insight and I'll try to add my own. :o)
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