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thirty day challenge {day 30}

Day 30. It is hard to believe that today marked the 30th day that I have started off my mornings alone with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. The 30th day that I have really made an effort to make the Lord the priority of my days. This was definitely a first for me. A discipline that I have longed to make a daily habit and priority in the past, but failed many times. I’m not sure what was different about this time. I think that I have finally realized that if I really want to make the Lord the priority of my days…if that is what my heart really desires…then it is going to take discipline and sacrifice on my part. I am not trying to pat myself on the back. While this challenge did take some effort on my part, it is only by the grace of God that I got myself out of bed even one of the past thirty mornings. And I’m not going to stop now. It is my prayer that my devotion time with the Lord would be a delight not a duty. I pray that I would understand what a privilege it is to meet with the Lord and that I would long for this time with Him. And I pray that God would be the priority of my days…not just in the month of June, but everyday. That is my prayer for you too.
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His Word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5

So how did you do? There were 54 of you who responded to my original post…54 of you who desired to seek God daily in the month of June. If you participated in the 30 Day Challenge I would love to hear what God has been doing in your heart and life over the past thirty days. Please share! Maybe the 30 Day Challenge was really difficult for you and you felt like you failed over and over…much like I have felt many times before. Don’t give up! Keep seeking Him with your whole heart. We need Him more than anything else. We need His strength and wisdom to make it through each day.
I have been reading a book this past month {how can June already be over?!} about finding intimacy with God through a daily devotional life. It has been so encouraging to me as I battle all the frustrations and failures I have had with my own personal devotional life. I’ll tell you a little more about it next week and I think I’m even going to give a book away…just because I like you all so much! May we all become women you seek after God everyday.
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And one more {much less important} thing for today…
I was featured at Baby Lifestyles

Levi’s first birthday party and nursery were both featured at Baby Lifestyles this week. How fun. You can find the nursery feature here and the first birthday feature here.
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  • Anonymous - What a difference a month makes! Thanks for the challenge. God’s word and time with Him can revive the weary soul. Thanks for the encouragement and challenge. It was a life changing month for me.
    Katie T.ReplyCancel

  • Jody - My New Testament class kind of kicked me in the butt the last couple weeks so I am planning to try again in July (:ReplyCancel

  • Natalie - I did it! I think there only 3 days that I skipped for some reason or another…but I pressed on and so thankful that I did. Can’t believe it has been a month. I appreciate the challenge. I am moving forward with confidence as I begin the next 30 days!ReplyCancel

  • Meggie - Thanks so much for all of your encouragement these past 30 days! I have really enjoyed my time in the mornings alone with the Lord. It started off as something I was making myself do (and still is sometimes) but now I really look forward to it and need that time. This week has been a challenge because we’ve been on vacation and our normal routine is sort of out the door! But, I’m working to make some time during some point during the day to just pray and read my Bible. As soon as we’re home I’m planning to get back on track! Thanks again for your encouragement and your comment earlier this week! selphpartyof3.blogspot.comReplyCancel

  • Amanda - You are such an inspiration! God bless you!ReplyCancel

  • Miss G - Hi Jess, I am behind on blog reading and so saw your 30 day challenge way into it. God used you, another blogger, a book I’m reading and a sermon all converging to help me to try this first thing in the morning quiet time with Him rather than a hit or miss time sometime during the day. I have been doing it since June 26th, the day before my 35th birthday. So far it has been a pretty up and down experience for me – starting off pretty well, days went well according to my version of them going well and I felt like I could attribute that to giving that day to God very deliberately first thing in the morning. Then a couple of days didn’t go as well (again, according to my version of going well) and I got frustrated thinking that I had given those days to God too, why didn’t they turn out as well. It is not a formula or a magic genie lamp. This morning just felt like I was doing it to check something off my list. I am encouraged by Meggie’s comment and hope that as I persevere that I will long for this time with the Lord and it will be very meaningful to me. Thanks for sharing your heart and this challenge with us. KellyReplyCancel

  • Jen - Thanks so much for your inspiration! I have started the challenge and love it! Although I am only in the beginning…I have been blessed…of course!

    Love your blog!

    JenReplyCancel