Lent Challenge 1-20
Challenge day 1
Are you up for a challenge? Lent is a companion on the road of suffering. I willingly walk with Christ as Christ did in his life and ultimately in his death with my suffering and sin upon him. Durning Lent I reduce myself and join God in the narrow and lower way of Christ.
Charity: A negativity fast. May my words be grateful no matter the circumstances. (I’ll need some prayer ya! This is gonna be good)
Julie: social media fast
Kaitlin: tv, Netflix and all that!
You: what will you give up to join Christ on the narrow path?
We will publish a blog each week and daily post a scripture from the gospel of Mark, who by the way is associated as a disciple of Peters. Also fun fact in all the earlier paintings he has a lion or a winged lion with him in the painting. He is a gospel evangelist and was the first to take the gospel to Egypt.
Prayer for Day 1.
Lord today I intentionally prepare my day for you and in all my paths I return to you.
Challenge: Read the Gospel of Mark for 1-2 min.
Challenge day 2
#lent #leanin #liveauthentic
Things just got real for John. He is put in prison and the purpose of Jesus in his life begins. It’s a challenge to lean in to good news in a tough time. Jesus takes up the call to repentance with an additional charge; believe the good news. Read it for yourself in Mark 1.
Prayer: Lord no matter what struggle I face help me to believe in your goodness. Goodness that follows me and goes before me.
Challenge: How do you lean in to the bright side of a hard situation? Comment below or DM us!
An opportunity to go places with and for God. An offer of purpose if you are willing to leave your comfort zone.
#liveauthentic #lent
#outsizeyourcomfortzone
Challenge day 3
Prayer: I’m all in on Jesus! Lord I’m leaving fear and pride and daring to go.
Challenge: Do something outside your comfort zone with and or for Jesus.
Challenge day 4
Lean into time with God, even when everyone is looking for you, even when the pressures to perform intensify. “Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!””
Mark 1:36-37
Prayer: Lord as the day begins I leave the pressures of yesterday behind. I look to you and away from the demands that drain. I rest in you. I repent from neglecting my self and our relationship.
Challenge: spend sometime w/God in nature, with a journal, over a cup of coffee
art by @charityrattray
Sunday
Friendship requires intentionality and an ability to collectively support your friend who is struggling or down. Who would you destroy a building for? Who would you carry to the arms of Jesus? Who would carry you?
Prayer: God I repent for areas where I have short changed my friends and taken more than I have given. Amen
Challenge: reach out to a friend, call, road trip, buy the plane ticket, FaceTime them, pray for them for 5 min and petition God for their well being, health, and wholeness.
Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Mark 2:3
Challenge day 5
Many follow Jesus. Don’t be offended.
Prayer: Lord forgive me for discrimination at your table. This table is for all who choose it.
Challenge: attend a gathering that is different from you. And as you do this still retain your uniqueness as you too are created in the image of Christ. And if you are influenced to change let it be into the image of Jesus who welcomes diversity. All colors. All.
Challenge day 6
Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.
Mark 3:35 NIV Just rest in the identity of family.
Prayer: God when I’m tempted to chase my identity in other things, help me to stop and ask for directions. Thank you for making your will known to me today.
Challenge: Do the last thing God said.
Challenge day 7
How often do you listen? What is the measure of your day given to growing in faith? Yesterday’s failure to follow doesn’t have to be today’s story. Start fresh again.
Prayer: Father I renew my interest my focus today. I’m here listening.
Challenge: take 5min today to just listen, write your thoughts down as they come and ask God to speak to you.
Sunday
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Mark 6:31
Where do you go for rest? Can you incorporate God in your resting? Try getting outside to balance work life and social demands.
Prayer: God I’m gonna retreat today. Rest in you. Drink a second cup of coffee, take in a worship session either online or podcast, let you handle the heavy weights and I will explore outdoors.
Challenge: sleep in, get outside, leave your phone on silent, rest with God. Learn to rest not to quit.
Challenge day 12
The palm branch symbolizes victory triumph and peace -we’re not at Palm Sunday yet. However the victories Christ has accumulated so far in the book of Mark are astounding. “Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it. People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.””
Mark 7:36-37 NIV Prayer: Lord I thank you that you bring peace and victory Lord you overcome the impossible, mute speak and everything you do is done well. Wow wow wow, do it again.
Challenge: today set your intention to live in the peace of mind that a guaranteed victory brings you.
Challenge day 13
““I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.””
Mark 8:2-3 NIV It’s easy to forget that Jesus is continuous in his compassion. His attitude towards us and his mercy doesn’t alter.
Prayer: Lord I thank you that I don’t have to feel shame and I don’t have to feel unseen that my basic needs and my spiritual needs are before you. So help me to just come.
Challenge: actively tell God something you’re trusting him to take care of.
Challenge day 14
God will continue to gather ya, for the specific purpose of listening to him. Take 5 and read below!
#Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen to me, everyone, and understand this. Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.””
Mark 7:14-15
Defilement comes from the battles within. Have the courage to face your shadow side. Once you and Jesus have settled that, nothing and no one outside you can make you unclean.
Prayer: God I’m yours. Fill the shadow portions of my life with the light and peace of your wisdom and Spirit. I admit to you where I have wronged you God, and I yield to your superior way. As Esther gave her beauty to the instructor I give my gifts talents and life to your instruction. Now I commit my life to you God knowing nothing and no one can undo the redemption you have brought me! Whoop!
I’m free.
Challenge: Let it go, forgive yourself and remember you are a new creation, beautiful one!
Challenge day 15
Love also gives you a warning. Love says look out. “”Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.””
Mark 8:15 NIV
Prayer: thanks for all the mornings you give me Lord, mornings and words filled with truth I need.
Challenge:
Read the hard truths.
Challenge day 16
Look up, your life matters so much.
There is something we need to sit with and really look into. It’s a question that needs to be answered before the heart beats for the last time.
#But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.””
Mark 8:29 NIV Prayer: God I’m settling it, come what may, I’ll live saying who you are –
till my last heart beat.
Challenge: go outside look at the world and ask yourself, “who do I say Jesus is?” Tell your response, first to him, then to the world.
Sunday
We are still working our way through Mark.
Mark writes the account of the hike up a mountain and ends up quoting God’s words audibly heard by Peter and John. The whole scenario is called the transfiguration. They could not see Him or the near proximity of heaven the same way after. Jesus is like that, the more you walk with him the more he is. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Prayer: God, go beyond and show me the more. I’m here challenging myself, and getting outdoors or yeah even indoors with you. Help me to listen and be filled.
Challenge: spend today celebrating fellowship with God, your way. Enjoy today outdoors if that’s you, or over a late breakfast. Take in a worship session, and audibly tell God you want more.
Challenge day 17
It’s an outlook. It’s way more than IF. “”If you can’?” Said Jesus. “Everything is possible for the one who believes.”” Mark 9:23
Prayer: Our Father, affirm areas where we are strong and believe- strengthen areas of “If”.
Challenge: Pay close attention to your thought life, redirect doubt today with the phrase, “everything is possible.”
Challenge day 18
We read of difficulties that are no match against prayer.
He shows us here, there are victories we can only overcome by connecting to the Father.
He replied to them, “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].””
MARK 9:29 AMP Prayer: Our Father, let your kingdom come, help us stay woke to the importance of prayer. You have not dealt with us apart from grace. Humbly we believe the value of our conversations with you in prayer.
Challenge: Go ahead and set a timer or set out on a walk for a longer than your normal dialogue with God. If you haven’t before in a deeply personal way (calling him father) lift up your greatest hurdle. End with a commitment to give him glory for the win.
Challenge day 19
Let’s talk about love baby (emoji music notes)
Was Jesus a romantic? Are you? If you are, you may want to read the words of Jesus. He definitely sounds like romantic. No cynic talks of love the way Jesus does. He says when they marry “they are no longer two, but [are united as] one flesh.” Read more in Mark 10.
Prayer: (if you are married) Our Father cleanse me of any actions that do not honor the bond we have. Lord care for us, protect us, invigorate and revitalize our affection. Let our love be steadfast. Amen
Prayer: (if you aren’t) Our Father cleanse me from any sexual relationships I’ve jumped the gun on before the actual race. Forgive the places I’ve taken what I want. Lord let my actions honor the marriages around me. And seriously thank you that sexuality doesn’t have to define my identity or value. Thank you for a full and vibrant life. Thank you that love can be shared beyond the physical and show me those ways. Amen
Challenge: pic a marriage to honor, (parents, grandparents, friends) pray for it, text or call them and affirm the beautiful way they are daily living, way beyond the wedding photos. Awake’s very own @rachelaguilar6 @mrs.ashleypeterson both had beautiful weddings, but what is more is the love they are daily giving.
Challenge day 20
After you grab an iced coffee (because it is finally warmer) know there’s something good in front of you. Love actually says things to you. Love sits across the table and is invested in your life. Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.””
Mark 10
Prayer: Jesus say what you want to say. I’m listening.
Challenge: Love is active. Get involved. Help the poor, serve a friend, speak up, and know this too is love.
