Through the month of November, I'm taking on a challenge to write 50,000 words in those thirty days. Officially, it's NaNoWriMo. I've logged my word count for the past week and on my normal writing days, I hit around 1200 words, so the push to 1700 isn't outrageous. However, I only have normal writing days about 4 days out of 7. That's where the challenge comes in.
Earlier this month, I took on the challenge of my first 5K, and lived. Last year, I threw down and contracted to produce three books and look where THAT got me.
Challenges – the kind we choose to participate in – are about stretching and growing. Spiritually, we should be looking for challenges as well. I can remember a challenge to memorize Philippians (I got a chapter and a half) and one to read Romans as many times as possible in a quarter (I think I got 12). Around New Year's lots of people take on the challenge to read the Bible through. Some do. Many don't. I think it's because they lack they passion for the challenge.
How do you find that passion to persevere? What do you like now? The writing and running challenges were extensions of what I like to do, what I'm already doing. Where are your gifts and interests? Are you a prayer warrior? Maybe a prayer walk challenge or a commitment to pray for specific people or situations is your kind of challenge. Are you the card-sending or the phone-call-making type? Perhaps reaching out to others that way is for you. Are you the hospitable type? Think about challenging yourself to invite new folks over or take goodies to them.
Some spiritual challenges are more internal, more personal. Sometimes God impresses on us things to change, areas we need to focus on. For me, I want greater intimacy with God. I feel like my relationship with Him is very formal and I want to develop a close, worshipful boldness with Him, if that makes sense. So I'm reading and studying in those areas, and listening for that nudge when I come across things I need confess or change.
What challenges have you taken on? How did you do? Any new challenges?
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14
Paula says
You GO girl!
Lauren says
I have the challenge to read the whole Bible through before March (I'm maybe two-thirds of the way through Numbers; I'm not too worried since alot of books will be one-dayers).
I'm also thinking about NaNoWriMo–even though I write things that are over in 20,000 words. :/ But we'll see. 🙂
I have the 15 things before 15 list. So far I have 3/15–but a lot of those will change.
I also want to make sure to set aside time for God. So far it's working. 🙂