How Accountability Makes or Breaks Your Success In a 40-Day Christian Challenge
“Enthusiasm is common. Commitment is rare.”
Remember the last time you started a new diet, tried to go to the gym regularly, or committed to reading the Bible every morning?
At first, you were probably really excited and determined to crush it. But then life happened. 🫣
The alarm rang too early.
You had a terrible day at work.
The kids needed extra help with their homework.
And just like that, your new, life-changing routine vanished.
It’s not that you don’t want to stick to your goals! You valiantly keep trying, time and again.
You need someone in the fight WITH you.
😮💨 Someone who knows how hard it is…
⏰ who pulls themself out of bed before they want to…
🏃🏻 who chooses conviction over convenience…
🙅🏻♀️ who doesn’t entertain excuses…
My Christian walking challenge is the game-changer you’ve been waiting for.
When you sign up, you gain access to our Facebook accountability group: a community of real-life, down-to-earth people who LOVE encouraging and walking alongside you – literally! You get to share wins, struggles, and fears with people committed to you every step of the way.
Our Facebook group is the reason thousands of participants succeed at the Forty Forty Challenge – thousands of members who *didn’t* think they could do it.
Let’s talk about why this Facebook group is the “make-it” of my 40-day Christian challenge.
What is Accountability?
Starting strong with a good old-fashioned definition, Merriam-Webster says accountability is, “an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.”
In other words, accountability is a buddy system for your goals. It’s about owning up to what you say you’ll do and actually doing it.
Whatever goal you set, it’s crucial to have a safety net. Because no matter how determined you feel at the start, there will be days you do NOT want to stick it out and will do anything to get out of it. 😩
Accountability is that safety net. When your willpower runs out, you can fall back on your support system, and they’ll bounce you right back to your goals.
When you feel weak, your accountability people are strong FOR you, pushing you to do what you committed to. 🤜🤛
How Does Accountability Work in a Christian Walking Challenge?
When you sign up for my 40-day Christian challenge, you get a built-in accountability system!
This support network makes the difference in finally achieving that goal you’ve been after (and beyond!) versus throwing in the towel when the excitement wears off.
Here’s how it works: When you sign up and accept the Facebook group invite, you gain one of the greatest tools to help you reach your goals. Some people will just be starting, while others have been knocking out Christian walking challenges for years.
You have 24/7 availability to share your progress, ask for prayers or advice, or talk about your struggles and victories. This can be as simple as posting pictures from your daily walk or little ✅✅✅next to your daily habits.
Let me assure you, you WILL receive genuine, heartfelt feedback and encouragement from this group. They are committed to your success, constantly pump you up, and lovingly hold you to your commitments. What better way to stay on track than with like-minded friends cheering you on?!
The Power of Accountability
How do we know that accountability works?
Imagine you’re trying to build up the motivation to run a 5k alone, on a deserted street, on a random Tuesday, and no one knows or cares if you do it. 😒There’s a very small chance you’ll follow through with it.
Now imagine you’re considering a popular, pre-existing 5k. Your friends and family are excited to run with you and experience it together. The whole route is lined with spectators cheering you on, offering you cold water and high-fives. 🥳You’d already be signed up by now!
That crowd of runners and spectators in the 5k is the Facebook accountability group. They go through every step with you AND cheer you on constantly.
Forbes reports on a study published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. The participants were split into two weight loss programs – one with an accountability group and one without. The participants in the weight loss program WITH accountability lost more weight than the other group, AND were projected to maintain that weight loss over time.
It’s unignorable: community makes a difference!
What Accountability Does In Your Brain
Have you ever noticed how satisfying the small act of checking something off a list feels?
Well, it’s not just in your head. It’s actually science! 🤓
When you accomplish a goal like checking something off a list, your brain releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine.
Dopamine is often called the “feel-good” chemical, but recent psychological research shows it’s more accurately described as a “motivating” chemical. When your brain receives a bit of dopamine, it immediately desires more. That desire keeps you moving down your checklist.
This means every time you accomplish something, you prime your brain to pursue more achievement. This sets you up for a self-perpetuating cycle to success. 🏆
Now replace that private checklist with an accountability partner or group. Every time you share any small achievement with them, you receive a bit of dopamine and get excited for more. But add to that a generous helping of encouragement, applause, and support!
WOW. 😍
What a powerful combination to keep you motivated, encouraged, and hungry to reach your goals!
How Accountability Helps You Conquer a 40-Day Christian Challenge
Let’s talk specifics.
How exactly does the Facebook accountability group benefit your virtual Christian walking challenge?
- Access to a goldmine of wisdom, tips, and guidance. 🤝The Facebook accountability group is filled with thousands of participants who’ve gone before you. They’ve been through it all – from injuries to severe weather to lack of motivation to family disasters. Nothing you share will leave them dumbfounded and unable to help.
- Progress tracking. 📈Every time you post your mile count or weight loss, you can see how far you’ve come! The more consistently you post, the more you’ll want to celebrate your progress.
- A pick-me-up for those rough patches. 😔When you feel tired, discouraged, or plain overwhelmed, a quick scroll through the group’s posts is a game-changer. Daily stories of others who keep going despite obstacles give you that extra push to move forward. You’re not alone!
- Ownership of your goals. 💪When others expect to hear from you, it becomes harder to dodge what you said you’d do. Now, if you back out on your commitment, it not only affects you, but it also affects them.
- Milestone celebration. 🎉There is no one better to celebrate an achievement than someone who knows just how much it took. Whether you hit a new mile count, experience a spiritual breakthrough, or fit into smaller clothes, this group celebrates with real understanding and genuine appreciation for your grit and endurance.
What if My 40-Day Christian Challenge Doesn’t Go to Plan?
When you’re in a 40-day Scripture challenge, days where things go awry are inevitable. 🤷
When this happens, it’s easy to wonder if that means you’re failing and should just give up.
#1 – give yourself grace. 🫶Nobody’s perfect, and the goal isn’t to have a perfect track record by the end of 40 days. The goal is to be transformed during the 40 days, whatever that transformation needs to look like.
#2 – LEAN ON YOUR COMMUNITY. 🫂I can’t emphasize this enough! This is exactly what the accountability group is here for. When you’re struggling and feel off track, reach out to the group. Tell them what you’re going through. Chances are, most of them have been in your shoes and will support you with relevant encouragement, advice, and relief.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Christian Walking Challenge Accountability
Here are some practical tricks to help you get the most out of your 40-day Christian challenge.
When you practice these tips daily, you’ll suddenly find yourself much closer to your goals than you ever imagined. 🤩
✅ Daily Check-ins – When you make a habit of reporting your success to friends, you wire your brain to keep achieving and start a self-perpetuating cycle of reaching your goals.
❤️🩹Authenticity – You can only receive as much encouragement as you’re willing to be open and honest. This is a safe group of trustworthy people who have your best interest at heart.
🥹 Emotional Recognition – Let yourself FEEL the emotions of achievement, encouragement, and the support you crave. Ride the motivation wave – it will get you further than you expect.
📅 Set deadlines with someone you respect. When someone you look up to is aware of your commitment, you’ll be MUCH more motivated to accomplish it. As much as you look up to them, you long for them to respect you.
🤲 Humility – You might think you’re strong enough to not need an accountability group, but chances are, that last diet didn’t survive very long alone. Our human weakness and God-given need for community is a beautiful thing He intends us to enjoy!
Next Steps
If you’re highly motivated to implement better spiritual and physical routines in your lifestyle, the Forty Forty Challenge is perfect for you.
Especially if you’ve experienced how hard it is to build new habits alone.
My virtual Christian walking challenge offers you a built-in support system, full of loving, real-life participants who walk in your shoes every day.
In our group, you’re not just another name on a list. You’re a valued member of a community that pours into each other and doesn’t stop cheering one another on.
If you’re ready to make a change and STICK to it for real this time, sign up for my 40-day Christian challenge. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment – it doesn't exist.
I’m excited to meet you and walk this path together, supporting each other in godly habits, physical fitness, and spiritual growth!