6 Ways the Jesus Challenge Jumpstarts Your Consistent Bible Reading
If you’re anything like me, you know what it feels like scrambling through the chaotic symphony of life, desperately wishing for a quiet moment with God. It seems impossible to find time. 🥵
It’s not that you don’t want to spend time with Him. You DO!
You crave it.
You NEED it.
You do your absolute best to nail down a consistent devotion routine, but it’s like trying to catch smoke with your hands – it always slips away.
You might feel guilty.
Or frustrated.
Or behind.
As a busy business owner, mother, and wife, I’m right there with you. I know how defeating this feels.
But I’m here to tell you, there’s a way to break free of this cycle. 🥳
There’s a tool – a practical, down-to-earth guide and resource to help you finally carve out that sacred space for daily devotion.
And more importantly, KEEP it carved out.
Enter the Forty-Forty Challenge – my 40-day virtual Christian walk/run challenge, tried and tested by thousands of participants who broke free from the tug-of-war on their time.
My virtual Jesus challenge involves walking or running 20 minutes every day for 40 days while spending time studying God’s Word. When you sign up, I send you readings and challenges to put your faith into action!
Now let’s talk about six ways the Jesus challenge helps you bridge the gap between longing for time with God and actually making it happen consistently every day.
1. The Jesus Challenge Provides Powerful Habit Cues
Consistency isn’t just a buzzword. It’s the cornerstone of any successful habit.
The British Psychological Society conducted a study on habit formation and behavior change. They found that linking certain habits to a specific time of day or unique cue strongly aided in forming automatic habits.
Let’s put this in terms of spending time with God. When you consistently associate a certain time/cue with your devotions, anytime you encounter that time/cue, your brain automatically sends you signals to spend time with the Lord. Pretty awesome, right? 🤩
How does that translate to a virtual Jesus challenge?
When you walk or run daily and read the Bible, your brain develops a connection between walking and spending time with God.
It’s as simple as walking! 🤯 Which you and I do every single day.
Soon, whenever you go for a walk or a run, your brain automatically cues you to pray, read God’s Word, or meditate on truth.
- When you walk from your car into Aldi…
- When you take an evening walk with your family around the neighborhood…
- When you walk the dog…
… all those moments can be filled with prayer instead of stress. Over time, your mind naturally turns toward truth instead of fear or worry.
Walking is so ordinary it’s overlooked. So why not tie your most common, daily activity to the most life-giving, powerful habit you could ever develop?
To me, that’s a no-brainer. 🤷🏻♀️
2. You Get Loads of Support in My Virtual Jesus Challenge
Up until now, you probably buckled down on your devotion routine alone. Gritted your teeth and told yourself, “This time – THIS TIME – I will do it!” 😤
- Maybe you feel ashamed telling others you still struggle to read God’s Word daily.
- Maybe you don’t know anyone who appreciates the value of your efforts.
- Maybe you believe you don’t need help.
I relate to how you feel – but let me encourage you. None of those feelings are true.
When you sign up for my virtual Christian challenge, you gain access to a private Facebook group filled with people just like you!
🥱 They also struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
😵💫 They also long for time with God, but don’t know how to rearrange their lives so it fits.
🗓️ They understand the courage it takes to change your schedule.
It’s not just a vague virtual space – it’s a vibrant community of honest, authentic people. It’s safe to let down your mask. You’ll be met with grace, encouragement, support, and practical tips from others who understand exactly what you’re going through.
When you feel connected to a supportive community, you’re much more likely to adopt healthy habits and STICK with them for the long run. It makes sense, doesn’t it? Sharing your struggles, victories, and insights with like-minded friends creates a sense of accountability and camaraderie that fuels your commitment.
My last blog post uncovers the massive benefits of utilizing accountability in habit formation.
Why keep fighting alone when hundreds of others are pursuing the exact same goal? This is the power of the body of Christ: to band together and push each other towards God’s purpose and truth. 🤝
3. You Set Goals to Track and Celebrate Your Progress
Think about this. How often do you set well-intentioned, yet vague goals to spend time with the Lord?
When someone in small group asks, “What’s your action step this week?” we often answer, “Spend more time with God.”
But what exactly does that look like? What does that mean? 🤔
More often than not, we cave to discouragement because we’re not aware of our real-life, visible progress. Failing to set measurable, specific goals cuts our best attempts off at the knees.
In a previous blog post, I discussed the importance of setting S.M.A.R.T. goals. These are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
Setting a S.M.A.R.T. devotional goal could look something like this: “I will walk briskly for 30 minutes every morning at 7 am while I read my daily devotion. Every evening before I go to sleep, I’ll post a report of my walk to the Facebook group.”
When you visibly see your progress, report to people who celebrate every win, and divide your goal into bite-sized pieces, you fuel the motivation to keep going. Your devotions become a daily celebration rather than a disappointment. 🥳
4. The Challenge Integrates Both Physical and Spiritual Health
As you juggle a busy lifestyle, finding time for both physical and spiritual growth seems like an impossible feat. You’re lucky if you sneak in a quick 7-minute HIIT workout during nap time. 😰
Fostering holistic physical and spiritual health is one of the Forty Forty Challenge’s main pillars. By combining daily walks/runs with Bible study and reflection, you not only prioritize your well-being but also maximize your time beyond those 20 minutes.
Daily exercise improves physical health and boosts your mood and cognitive function, making it a perfect complement to consistent devotions. 🤗
So if you’re short on time and don’t know when to squeeze in daily exercise, I encourage you to embrace the Jesus challenge’s natural combination of physical and spiritual health.
5. The Jesus Challenge is Flexible and Adaptable
If you’re anything like me, your schedule is VERY hard to predict.
Between family commitments, work projects, and unexpected changes, finding the same time for daily devotions feels like forcing a square peg into a round hole.
Believe it or not, trying to hold to a strict schedule could be a major culprit of your failed attempts at nailing down a devotion routine. 😬
As contrary as it might sound, embracing flexibility might be the solution you’ve been looking for!
According to the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, individuals who adopt a flexible goal approach far outperform those who are strictly rigid. In this study, flexible participants maximized their study time and achieved their goals more quickly than those who only worked at certain times.
As much as you might desire structure, you need the freedom to live your life and flow with changes as they come.
My virtual Christian challenge gives you plenty of flexibility to customize your daily walks and Bible study to suit your needs. By adopting a flexible and adaptable approach, you create a sustainable and fulfilling practice that fits seamlessly into your busy life.
After all, the goal isn’t just to meet God on YOUR schedule – it’s about abiding in Him through the highs and lows of life’s ever-changing rhythms. 🌊
6. You Can Continue the Jesus Challenge As Long As You Want
Did you know my virtual walking challenge doesn’t just end after 40 days? 🤩
I offer six Jesus challenges throughout the year, each starting at a different time to accommodate busy schedules. If my start dates don’t align with your schedule, you can purchase the challenge and do it at any time!
On top of that, you can also sign up for an Add-On challenge! This additional challenge gives you access to five extra reading sections in Psalms and Proverbs to keep you going after the original 40-day Jesus challenge.
Whichever direction you choose, the habits and behaviors you form during 40 days do NOT have to end when it’s over. My hope and prayer is that you create lifelong habits that bring you closer to Jesus.
My virtual Jesus challenge isn’t a one-and-done thing. It’s a tool you can use as long and as often as you’d like to solidify that daily devotion time you crave. 💪
There’s No Better Time To Take The First Step
Think about it. If you wait another day, week, month, or year to unlock your devotion routine, where will you be?
You’ll most likely be in the same spot as you are now, but more discouraged, frustrated, and disappointed in yourself.
Friend, I promise you will not leave my virtual Jesus challenge unchanged. 🥹No one can sit in the presence of Jesus and be untouched by His love and kindness.
TODAY is the day you reclaim your time with the Lord. He is worthy of every second we have on earth!
Sign up today to kickstart your new daily devotion routine.