Day 4

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." (Matthew 6:33)

Didn't devote extra time to God, didn't pray for someone who needed it, didn't do anything out of the ordinary.

I had an opportunity to pray with someone today but I didn't take it. Why is it so hard to pray for someone aloud and in the open for all to see? I know it wont increase the "power" of my prayer if it's aloud but I beleive it increases a peron's hope and faith when they hear a prayer for them. I still continued to pray for this person throughout the day, but I wish I had had the courage to pray with them aloud.

So far I am failing my attempt to live fully for Christ. I can't seem to get the motivation to wake up any earlier than usual to read the bible and I can't get the courage to openly talk to a stranger about God. All in all I have made no significant changes. We'll see what the next few days hold.

Day 1

"He will render to each one according to his works..." (Rom 2:1-4)
"God judges the secrets of men..." (Rom 2:16)

No work today!
Woke up early to read the bible, played with the kids, tried to serve my wife more, tried to have more patience with my kids, gave a stranger in the cold a ride home.

Beginning this journey I realize just how hard it is to talk about Jesus. On this day I was off from work so my opportunities to help others and praise the Lord were limited. I don't feel as though I behaved any differently today. I may have mentioned God or Jesus to my wife a little more than usual but nothing to brag to God about.

I started the day by getting out of bed before the kids began to stir so that I could have some quiet time reading the bible. This was something I've never done before and I really enjoyed it. Ask any writer and they agree that the morning is the best time for writing, creativity and just thinking in general. Taking that morning time, before any thoughts, ideas or concerns are in my head, and devoting it to reading God's word made a big difference in my attention to His word. My usual bible time is about thirty to sixty seconds on the toilet every morning, but this full twenty to thirty minutes was a great improvement. Now, I'm not "knocking" the toilet time, and will still read a verse or two while I'm there, but it has always scared me a little. If God wants you to do something you will do it. If he wants me to read the bible and the only time I choose to read it is on the toilet, well, he will make sure I am on the toilet to read. My fear is being struck down with some awful bowl syndrome that plants my cheeks firmly on the seat for an extended period of time...

I started reading Romans this morning and made it to chapter three. These are letters from Paul to the Romans and it is a great read. In fact, all of Paul's letters are perfect for any new or seasoned Christian as they discuss problems newer Christians are having and some detailed explanations of Jesus' teachings.

Day Zero

I'm feeling scared about my upcoming venture. Scared that I will still ignore the decisions God tells me to do during the next 30 days. I'm scared that I may realize that I am not a "good" Christian. What "not being a good Christian" would mean is that I am in fact not a Christian at all. Because, there is no good Christian or bad Christian, you either trust in God with all your heart and soul or you don't, simple as that. So the fear is, what if I'm not the Christian I thought I was?

Zero Minus 1

Do you ever want to go back and help those people who you shrugged off? Or, make that decision that you knew, deep down somewhere, was the right decision and completely selfless, but would also be the hardest path to take? Maybe you get this feeling of selfishness when you pass a man by who needs a ride, or when you don't offer the cash in your pocket or coat off your back to the homeless man lying in the rain on the street. There are those times in your life when you wished you had just listened to that little voice that told you what to do. You may think it's your conscious, some cricket on your shoulder whispering sweet nothings in your ear, but that inner voice, that "feeling," is the Holy Spirit inside of you. God's way to communicate with us.

I am starting this blog to motivate me to make those decisions that God is telling me to make. Many of you Christians and non-Christians may relate to a feeling you get that you should pray for someone right there on the spot, but you don't. That little voice tells you to pick up that person in need on the side of the road, but you keep driving and excuse yourself because you've already driven past. Even though, many of us would ignore the man on the road but stop for the dog 50 yards away.

I have made a lot of changes in my life and those changes usually start with a 30 commitment to implement them. I've given up all dairy for 30 days, been a vegan for 30 days, trained hard for 30 days, saved money for 30 days, logged everything I've eaten for 30 days; the list goes on. I am a passionate nutritionist and athlete and as you can see the majority of my changes and 30 day commitments better my body, never my spirituality. That is what I am trying to accomplish.

For a minimum of 30 days I will listen to the Holy Spirit inside of me. I will have faith in Jesus and His plan for me and make the decision that He is telling me to make. I've joked with my wife that if I ever did everything that I thought God wanted me to do, that I would sell everything we own and move to another country to be a missionary, helping where we can and offering up God's word. We'll see if my prediction was true and what God has planned for me and my family.