Challenge #1: QUIT

Just quit.

Not a very positive note to start on, right? Or perhaps it is.

Ephesians 4:22 reminds us to “lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit… and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness…”

You are beginning a journey – a journey to the Cross. Why weigh yourself down? Like an over-loaded single-prop airplane, we will have difficulty taking flight until we finally rid ourselves of some unnecessary baggage.

But what do we choose to throw out? Its easy to target the stuff we know will be easy to drop. “Well, I’ll control my gluttonous appetite and stop up-sizing my meal at McD’s”

Big deal.

The stuff that actually weighs us down is the stuff that seems hardest to quit. But that’s what makes this a challenge – and I’ll be the first to admit, not an easy challenge! So let’s start with the hard stuff first:

Challenge #1: Stop the habitual sin in your life. Think about a sin, a sin that seems to sneak up on you on a regular basis – then choose to NOT commit that sin for 30 days. Resolve in your heart to QUIT sinning – to cut yourself loose from the “old self”.

This is a challenge that is simple to understand.
Difficult to do.

To answer this challenge, simply acknowledge that you have prayed and found the struggle you will try to battle over the next 30 days. No need to be specific. Just a simple response will work: "I know what my battle is. Please pray for me."

For those who accept this challenge, I give you this promise: I will pray over you every day this month regarding your determination to leave a piece of the "old self" behind.

I'm excited that you've chosen to walk this path! God help us all these next 30 days! In the words of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians,

"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!"


The Challenge for Friday, March 5: TOP TEN