Challenges

Colossians 2:9-10 states, "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and in Christ you have been brought to fullness." Throughout our day, we make lots of decisions about what to fill our lives with. Some of these decisions are very planned and strategic, whereas others are impulsive and just part of our "normal". This week, you are challenged to make a conscious and intentional effort to fill your time with Christ. This may require you to turn off some other stuff in your day that can never do what Christ wants to do for you with that time. Make sure to share when you chose to fill yourself with Christ this week as a way to encourage others to do the same!

We read in Colossians 1:9 that Paul writes, "For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives." This week, you are challenged to pray for fellow believers, as Paul discusses in this verse. This may already be a part of your normal routine, but consider adding an additional person and groups of fellow believers to your prayers. Share your story of who you are praying for with others on this app so others can be encouraged and maybe learn of others they can be praying for as well!

Throughout Scripture, we see that, as Christians, we are called to overcome evil with good. One of the ways that we are able to do this is by pursuing peace with others, especially people who can be difficult to love. Peace is one of the fruits of the spirit that you read about in Galatians 5:22-23. So consider how you are pursuing peace in this season of life? For this week's challenge, begin by reflecting on a particular situation in your life where you can be pursuing peace. Once you have identified this situation, write it down and then act on it! Then come back and share your story on the app, so this community can walk with you and encourage you!

Matthew 5:14-16 states, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Many times we think a lot about the words we need to say or what we need to tell someone in order to point others in our life to Jesus. However, as the verse above indicates, our actions can often be what truly pushes others to want to know more about Jesus and can really change their perspective. So this week, pray about what you can do to point others to Jesus through your actions, and then go out and do it. Make sure to share your story about what you did here on the app so others can be encouraged and inspired by how God is working through you.

We read in Matthew 6:33 that we are to "seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." When we review what we are making a priority in our lives, sometimes we have to remove good things to make room for the best thing - Jesus. This week, challenge yourself to really examine what you are prioritizing in your life. It might be something that you need to remove from your life all together, or it might be something good in your life that just needs to be reprioritized in comparison to your relationship with Jesus.  Share your story of what you removed from your circle here, so others can be encouraged to do the same!

We read in Scripture that when Elijah was struggling with feelings of despair, God was gentle and kind towards him. God does multiple things for him, and one of these is sending him a friend in Elisha. Elisha was sent my God to help Elijah with the discouragement he was going through. Sometimes, all it takes is one true friend to help you see things differently and turn things around. This week's challenge is to find someone in your life who is feeling overwhelmed or discouraged, and encourage them as a friend with a simple call, text, or prayer. You might be surprised how God will use you to change this person's perspective on their situation. Be sure to share your story of who you loved one at a time this week!

The story of Jonah is a powerful tool to help us understand the will of God in our lives. In Jonah 1:1, God tells Jonah to, "go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because its wickedness has come up before Me." The Bible then says Jonah, "got up and went in the opposite direction" because of one word: bitterness. Jonah felt bitterness towards the people God was calling him to love.  One of the things that gets in the way of us loving people one at a time is when we have these unresolved feelings of bitterness, prejudice, or anger. In Ephesians 4 we learn that God calls us to get rid of all anger and bitterness because these things grieve the Holy Spirit. These emotions block us from being able to fulfill God's plan and purpose in our lives because bitterness has the ability to blind us to what God wants to do in and through us. This week's challenge is to focus on what God has done for you rather than what someone has done to you. This is how we can begin the difficult task of uprooting bitterness in our hearts. Every time you start to think about what someone did to you and those feelings of resentment and bitterness arise, stop and instead think about what God has done for you through Jesus. The more we focus on what He's done for us, the more grace and compassion we have for people who've done things to us.

We can all recall a time that we acted in a way that we later regretted due to our frustration. But we can take comfort in the fact that heroes of the faith struggled with this as well. We read in the Old Testament how Moses hit a rock with his staff to draw water from it in his frustrations with the Israelites, even though God specifically told him to speak to the rock in order to achieve this. Moses later comes to regret this decision to not listen and obey God's commands. This week, we want to overcome bad habits and memories by replacing them with good habits and memories. Our poor decisions can linger and influence us in unhealthy and painful ways. The best way to replace these habits and memories is by doing something kind or thoughtful for a friend, family member, or coworker. This will action will help you create a new pattern in your life! 

Fear has the ability to blind us or make us forget about the promises of God and who he is. We can fail remember the promises, the provisions, and the presence of God when we are overcome with fear. Through Gideon's example, we can discover different ways that we can identify God's presence. One of these ways is through rest.  This week, take some time to pause from the busyness of your schedule and life and just rest. If it helps, set an intentional timer in order to remind you to take a few minutes out of your day to simply rest in God's presence. You can use this time to gives thanks for all God's graces or simply reflect on how God has been at work in your life throughout the day. Share your story with others of what God reveals to you during this time!  

Life can be difficult, and you don't have to look far to find someone in your life who is struggling and feeling discouraged. So who in your life do you know that has been dealing with some disappointment that has left them feeling discouraged? Sometimes our tendency to be to try to fix them or to tell them to simply not feel that way.  This week's challenge is to ask someone who is discouraged about what they are feeling and what they are going through that has them feeling this way. Once you have heard their story, pray for them and encourage them! It seems simple, but it can make a huge impact for someone who is struggling. Make sure to share your story with how you listened and prayed for someone so others can be inspired to do the same!

Pride and arrogance can be blind spots for all of us. We read in Judges 14 how Samson disregarded the advice and counsel of his parents. He dismisses the wise words of two people in his life who love and care about him. Can you think of a time when you've done the same? The challenge this week is to invite those close to you to speak counsel into your life. When others know that you want their wisdom spoken to you when they see some things that they feel aren't as they should be, then they will be more willing to have those conversations with you, even the difficult ones. Having trusted family and friends in your life who know they are able and invited to give godly counsel can make all the difference. Make sure to share your story of a time when someone has given you wise advice or counsel when you really needed it.

James 1:19 states, "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." Take a few minutes this week to memorize this passage and really reflect on how you can live this out. If we can get this verse into hearts, it can truly impact the way we love people one at a time. You will undoubtedly find yourself this week in situations where it might be hard to just listen or difficult to hold back anger, but we hope having this verse in your heart and mind will affect the way you respond in these situations.  Make sure to share you continue to share your "One at a Time" stories this week to inspire and encourage others!

We are constantly bombarded with information coming from all directions nowadays. It can feel overwhelming and exhausting at times, given the rate at which information is created and consumed in today's society.  This week, make an intentional effort to cut out some external information and input so you can do more internal reflection. One of the best ways to start this time of internal reflection is by reading Scripture. If you need a place to start, read through Luke 24 which details the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Reflect on what those verses, no matter which you have chosen, mean for you and how it impacts you today. Make sure to share your story about how this time of internal reflection affected you!

The Great Commission in Matthew 28:18-20 says, "Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" When we read this, we sometimes think of traveling across the country or across the world to share our faith with people that we never have met before. But what if the mission field you are called to is your workplace, your gym, your child's school, or your neighborhood? Oftentimes, God wants to use us right where we already are to make disciples. This week's challenge may seem simple, but it can make a massive and eternal impact. Share your faith with someone this week, and make sure to share your story on here to inspire others to do the same!

We read in 2 Timothy 2:22 that Paul tells Timothy to "flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." We want to flee certain ways of thinking and living that isolate us from God and pursue ways of thinking and living that culitvate a much more imitate relationship with our Father.  This week's challenge is twofold, using the imagery of gardening that we find in Genesis. First, think about a habit, thought, or belief that prevents you from acheiving the intimacy with God that he desires and uproot it from your life. Second, in place of what you just uprooted, plant a habit, practice, or belief that brings you closer to God. We hope to read your story on here of what you planted as we're sure it will inspire others! 

God has intended for all of us to take some time for rest and renewal. No one is excluded from this, including Jesus during his earthly ministry. We see throughout the Gospels that Jesus took time away from the crowds to just spend some quiet time talking to his Father. We read in Mark 1:35 that "very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." If we see that Jesus makes rest and renewal a priority, then we should too. One way to achieve this feeling of rest and renewal is through some quiet one-on-one time with God, like Jesus did in the previous passage. This week, set aside some time to spend talking to God in a quiet, solidarity place. You might be surprised by what God reveals to you during that time. Make sure to share your story here with how this time with God impacted you!