Use These Five Insider Tips To Conquer Your Christian Walking Challenge
If you’re anything like me, you feel an urgent tug in two very important areas of life:
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nurturing a deeper relationship with Jesus
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taking care of your physical health
But every day they’re crowded to the back burner. And signing up for a 40-day Christian walking challenge feels like adding another item to an already overflowing list.
"Can I really do this?"
Today I’m going to help you say goodbye to that discouraging little voice. 👎We’re going to dig into the nitty-gritty of EXACTLY what it takes to succeed at a Christian walking challenge.
I’m going to offer you five tips, and honestly a lot more, as you’ll see. (I’m giving away all the secrets here. 😅)
Two things you need to know up front…
…these tips are not only for the elite and they’re not empty words. They’re absolute game-changers for down-to-earth, normal people like you and me.
How do I know this? Because over 10,000 participants have already succeeded at my virtual Christian walking challenge, and they faced the same concerns you have right now. They took advantage of these tips – and now navigate life with the freedom of healthy bodies and the abundance of a strong relationship with God.
I've been where you are, and I'm here to tell you that not only can you do this, but you're going to crush it and find the freedom you desire. 💪
Know WHY You Want to Join a 40-Day Christian Challenge
What brought you to the Forty Forty Challenge website? What makes you even entertain the idea of a virtual Christian run/walk?
Maybe it’s because you want to reclaim your health after years of putting yourself last.
Maybe you’re tired of your quiet time slipping through your fingers in the chaos of everyday life.
Palm Health, a wholistic wellness company, explains how to discover your “why.” “Your goals should be deeply connected to your personal values and your purpose in life in order to bring you the most fulfillment.”
Think about your personal convictions. Not someone else’s.
Your values.
Who you want to be.
Who God calls you to be.
Do this first.
Dig out your deepest “why.” Write it down, plaster it on the mirror, and set it as your phone background. Knowing why you do something is the powerhouse behind every successful journey. It gets you out of bed on those chilly mornings when the covers feel extra cozy and the snooze button is calling your name.
Melissa Hobbs, a strong participant in the Forty Forty Challenge faced some real setbacks. But she knew why she was doing it, so she didn’t give up.
She says, “I was certainly challenged during this challenge with sickness and knee issues!! But I didn't get discouraged because I knew the biggest accomplishment was to deepen my relationship with Jesus through His word!”
Don’t Try To Conquer This Virtual Walking Challenge Alone
If you’re an introvert, you might eagerly look forward to that silence and alone time on your daily walk. 😌 But don’t underestimate the power of companionship when the going gets tough.
Time magazine explores the idea of our primal desire to be with, like, and liked by our friends. This desire guides most of our daily choices. It means new habits spread via altered norms in your friend circles more than in your private life.
So if you decide to commit yourself to a new habit, get yourself a buddy! You’re much more likely to stick it out than if you try to accomplish it alone.
Charles Duhigg, author of The Power of Habit, says, “The cue and reward of a real person knocking on your door for a joint jog and a stimulating talk…is a particularly alluring replacement for whatever previously sucked you into sedentary TV watching.”
And don’t forget…
… the virtual cheer squad at your fingertips every day: our Facebook accountability group.
Imagine logging in after a particularly challenging day, only to find a flood of encouraging reminders, inspiring stories, and wise words from participants who know exactly what you’re going through. That’s what it’s like. 🤗
Loretta Brewster, a successful Forty Forty Challenge participant says, “The accountability helped push me to walk and read on days I might have just said it’s ok to not complete it today.”
Do not be afraid to lean on your support system. We’re here to help you achieve that victory you’re after.
Pace Yourself
Pacing is the secret sauce to any long-distance sport. And my Christian run/walk isn’t a sprint – it’s a marathon.
I know it’s tempting to hit the ground running, eager to log as many miles as possible the first few days. But trust me – starting like this is a surefire way to burn out quickly. Take it slow so you make it all the way!
How to pace yourself physically:
- Start with a pace that feels comfortable – one you could hold for an hour.
- Allow your body to gradually adjust to the increased activity.
- Hydrate regularly and eat healthy meals.
- Gradually increase your intensity with steeper hills or a faster pace.
- Be attentive to any signs of pain or injury and don’t try to push through it.
Pacing yourself isn’t just about the physical – it’s also about managing your busy schedule and emotional health. Here are some practical tips (yes, more tips!) to make sure you don’t burn out.
How to pace your schedule and mental/emotional health:
- Set a consistent, predictable time every day for your 30-minute walk.
- Protect that time like you would any other appointment.
- Let your people know you’re not available during this time.
- Turn your phone on Do Not Disturb.
- Focus on God speaking to your heart rather than on the swirling world around you.
At the end of the day, you’re not just walking for 40 days. You’re building life-long Jesus habits to transform your health and your relationship with God. You’ll be a different person when you finish the Forty Forty Challenge. 😍
If You Must Skip One, Don’t Skip Both
The age old dilemma of juggling priorities… We’ve all been there. And we all know the answer: consistency is key.
But what about those days it literally does NOT fit? Your schedule is packed tight, and you’re scrambling to find a spare minute to catch your breath, let alone dive into daily reading. Does it mean you can’t succeed at the Forty Forty Challenge? 🥺
This is where Valerie Korenek, a season challenged participant, drops some serious wisdom:
“Don’t skip the reading if you’re not able to walk one day (injury, illness, life happens, etc.) And don’t skip the walk if you can’t get to the reading one day. In other words, do something related to the challenge every day to keep it at the top of your mind. It’s easy to get distracted and forget. And forgetting to spend time with the Lord is exactly what the devil wants.”
Let those words sink in.
The devil thrives on distraction.
He loves pulling us away from the things that matter most. And how easily we fall into the trap of the tyranny of the urgent.
In these moments the temptation to throw in the towel feels almost irresistible. “I’ll just skip today and pick up tomorrow.” But tomorrow turns into the next day, and the next, and suddenly your priority of physical and spiritual health is a distant memory. 🫡
To conquer a run/walk challenge, you can’t wait for those curveballs to stop, and you can’t let them knock you over.
If you have to skip one element, go for it, but don’t skip the other. It protects you from losing your momentum and falling out of the challenge completely.
Celebrate Every Milestone of This 40-Day Run/Walk Challenge
To succeed at my 40-day Christian walking challenge, you MUST celebrate the small milestones all along the way. If you only focus on Day 40, it becomes lofty, distant and unattainable. You’ll miss all the hard work happening right in front of you.
Forbes magazine references a Harvard Business Review study analyzing 12,000 diary entries from 200 workers. They found that acknowledging and recording daily, small wins sparked a sense of progress, which in turn skyrocketed productivity and enthusiasm.
How does this translate to a Christian walking challenge?
- Break it down into bite-sized chunks. Set multiple step and mile goals along the way, and celebrate when you reach each one.
- Look back at the person you were when you started the challenge. Would you have imagined you could stick it out this long, run that consistently, or spend daily time in God’s Word for this many days? Amazing!
- Track everything – steps, miles, heart rate, familiarity with God’s Word, mindset shifts, all of it. Keeping note of all those small wins will show you just how far you’ve come.
- Don’t downplay your achievements. It’s ok to be proud of how far you’ve come and say thank you when someone compliments you. I’m proud of you!
- Intentionally choose a way to celebrate every achievement. One of the BEST ways to do this is to report daily into the Facebook group. When you show or receive gratitude, your brain releases serotonin and dopamine – the “feel good” emotions. Share with others to strengthen those neural pathways and build a solid base of gratitude.
The goal is not Day 40. The victory is the transformation that comes in nonglamorous, daily walks and devotions, especially on the days you don’t want to. It’s in the private, difficult choice to put on your shoes and open God’s Word.
So there you have it! Five – let’s be honest that was more than five – tips to succeed at a 40-Day Christian walking challenge. Every one of them tested and tried by my 10,000+ participants.
If you still have doubts about my virtual Christian run/walk, I encourage you to read our reviews of real-life stories from other people. I guarantee you they had the same concerns you do. 😉
Don’t let the fear of the unknown overwhelm your desire for more health and more of Jesus. He’s eager to flood your world with His presence.
An abundant life with Christ is NOT out of your reach. Your health is NOT out of control. You can take the first step towards that freedom today. Sign up for our next Forty Forty Challenge. I promise you won’t regret it.