28 DAY Faith Hard

If you're anything like me, you have a lot of negative self-talk rolling around your head the enemy uses too his advantage. Let's change that with this challenge. It is a re-vamped version of the 75 hard because it only takes 28 days to form a habit, but with a true focus on getting serious with God. Are you up for the challenge? This is about building your relationship, discipline, and accountability with the Lord.

In this world we are so often defined to always be running- running to distraction after distraction. Running to take care of EVERYTHING else besides cultivating a relationship with God. It is a limited perspective compared to the freedom received with truly spending time with the Lord. EVEN when your angry with the Lord, He doesn't judge you but listens. Believe me, I have shouted at the sky in defeat more times than I can count- BUT there is beauty in the breaking- if you allow yourself to really sit in it, absorb it, and give it too God.

Whether your excuse is kids, work, spouse, not enough time, etc. The Lord knows every excuse, and He will keep poking till you turn your attention fully too Him. Let's do that together with this challenge. Take 28 days, to give to the Lord, and watch the negative thoughts begin to dissipate, if not recognize them sooner and take them hostage (2 Corinthians 10:5-6).

It's to build your Endurance: "If you run with the footmen, and they wearied you, Then how can you contend with the horses?" (Jeremiah 12:5)

It's to build your relationship with our Lord and Savior- to come to know the Father: "Then they said to Him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor my Father. If you had known Me, you would have known my Father also." (John 8:19)

It's to build your discipline: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run to win a prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but WE are for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: Not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, les, when I have preached to others, I myself should not become disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

It's to build your trust, your faith, and remove negativity. To cleanse your entire being. If you have felt blocked, filled with anger towards the Lord for things going on in your life, confused, fearful, etc. Let's squash the snakes head together in this 28-day Faith Hard.

READY TO TAKE BACK THE POWER GOD PROVIDED YOU WITH?

1. WAKE UP 30 MINUTES-1 HR EARLIER- IMMEDIATELY DRINK 20 OZ WATER. GET YOUR TEA/COFFEE READY AND SIT YOUR BOOTY DOWN WITH YOUR BIBLE. PICK A BOOK TO STUDY. Pray about it, and read 1 or 2 chapters a day.

2. Pick a devotional that works for you to read daily. FOR WOMEN, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE BOOK WOMEN OF PURPOSE BY SARA DAIGLE. IT HAS BEEN LIFE CHANGING.

(THESE TWO STEPS ARE TO TAKE TIME UPON IMMEDIATEL WAKING UP TO SPEND TIME WITH THE LORD. DO NOT SKIMP YOURSELF FOR THIS TIME, GODS NOT THE ONE MISSING OUT, YOU ARE.)

3. GET YOUR BODY MOVING FOR JUST 15 MINUTES. DO A HITT WORKOUT, OR BETTER YET:

-10 SQUATS

-A MINUTE PLANK

-30 SEC FLUTTER KICKS

-10 JUMPING SQUATS/BURPEES

-20 DONKEY KICKS EACH LEG (REPEAT 5 TIMES)

4. DRINK 1 GALLON OF WATER A DAY. ADD FLAVORS IF YOU NEED TOO, LEMON, ETC- JUST GET THAT "LIFE JUICE" IN. (COFFEE AND TEA DO NOT COUNT LOL.)

5. DO A 45 MINUTE RUN/WALK. DONT JUDGE YOURSELF ON HOW LONG IT TAKES. HAVE KIDS? TAKE THEM WITH YOU. IF YOU HAVE TO SPLIT IT AND ONLY DO 5 MINUTES AT A TIME FINE, BUT "GET ER DONE"! THIS ISN'T ABOUT BEING PERFECT; THIS IS ABOUT DISCIPLINE AND BUILDING STRENGTH AND BUILDING YOUR RELATIONSHIP. (Remember to just slow down and admire Gods work-His creation.)

6. ONLY EAT OUT 1X A MONTH IN THIS TIME! NO SUGAR/PROCESSED FOODS. USE ALTERNATIVE SWEETENERS LIKE HONEY.

7. ANYTHING YOU PLAN ON SPENDING, PRAY ABOUT IT FIRST. DONT SPEND NEEDLESSLY, INSTEAD FOCUS ON PUTTING IT AWAY OR DONATING IT TOO SOMEONE IN NEED! (PROVERBS 21:20, 1 CORINTHIANS 16:2, 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7-11, MATHEW 6:3-4, 1 TIMOTHY 6:17-19, AND 2 CORINTHIANS 9:7-11)

8. NO SECULAR MUSIC. SERIOUSLY. Whether you think this is extreme or not, it really does affect your mindset. What we watch, listen too, and participate in either fills our relationship or provides a small grain of sand to take root- eventually turning into a large boulder that's ten times as hard to lift. (Ecclesiastes 7:5)

9. Love on those around you a little more- even if they make it hard, extend a little more grace. Towards the stranger, towards those closest to you, the ones you may not like. Make an effort to show a little more empathy and love, a little more grace to LET THINGS GO.

10. LAST BUT NOT LEAST!! Practice gratitude to the Lord throughout the day. If you have to set an alarm on your phone several times a day that's ok!! Again, this isn't about being perfect, but building endurance, discipline, and finding the good. Not forced positivity, but allowing God to do the work He has wanted to build your FAITH. Positivity can be toxic, but Faith that allows you to see GRACE in the bad AND the good, to Love in the midst of hardship is what we are looking for. WHY? because we spend a lot of time not recognizing what we have to be thankful for.

Your mindset, negativity, lack of hope, blockage from the Lord, anger, etc. does not have to control your life. Let God help you to be filled with peace. Even when it's hard. Take accountability and spend 28 days with the Lord in this 28-day Faith Hard!!