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The journey of a move is the process of learning how to Let Go, Start Over, and Move Ahead with your life. Our Monthly Challenge provides an inspiring quote and stepping stones to help encourage you during this journey. Will you accept our challenge? Year Four Challenge Archive (click here) Year Five Challenges: 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53 Challenge 54 "Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the LORD your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you." Let Go: How does fear immobilize you?
Start Over: Write down the things or situations causing you to be fearful.
Moving Ahead: Talk to someone you trust about these fears. Talk to God about them. Identifying fears and speaking aloud about them can act to reduce the power they have over you. Tear up the list of fears to symbolize your freedom from them and God’s power in your life to overcome them.
(Adapted from But Mom, I Don't Want to Move! by Susan Miller.) Let Go: Before you can begin to help your child through the transition and adjustment of moving, you need to take a deep breath and take care of yourself.
Start Over: It doesn’t matter how much information you have on preparing your children for their move. If you haven’t taken the time to prepare your heart emotionally and spiritually, you will be like an empty vessel unable to pour out the love, care, nurturing, and encouragement your children need during this time.
Move Ahead:
· Remember that God goes before you and with you in this move.
· No matter your circumstances, remember His faithfulness in the past. He will continue to be faithful.
· Look for and be thankful for the positive aspects of your move.
· Take a break from your long to-do list and listen to the voice of God through reading His word and praying.
· Get enough sleep. Sneak in a nap if you must.
· Ask for help from friends.
· Allow yourself to grieve.
· Keep your sense of humor.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Let Go: Has life has left you burning the candle at both ends until you’re nothing but a pool of wax? Perhaps it is an emotional burden that weighs your spirit down.
Start Over: Come to Jesus for your soul to be refreshed. Responsibilities will not disappear, but a refreshed spirit will inject peace and energy that you may be able to return to the task at hand.
Move Ahead: Carve even a few minutes out of each day to read from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John to soak in Jesus’ words. Memorize Matthew 11:28, 29 and post these verses in a place you’ll see.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “ Matthew 11:28, 29
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17
Let Go: Are you clinging to the past; longing for the home that you left behind?
Start Over: We worship a God of “new beginnings.” Your move is an opportunity to start fresh, reprioritize, and go deeply with God.
Move Ahead: Each day this month look for ways that God is using this move to begin something new in you or in your family. Keep a journal to record your thoughts and prayers.
“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving.” Let Go: You are moving in the right direction if you are following the leader – Jesus Christ. To know Him is to love Him and to follow Him is life changing. The more you read, study, observe, and understand the life of Christ and then imitate Him, the more your life will be a reflection of Him.
Start Today: Ask yourself, “What are the detours and dead ends I’ve taken by trying to go my own way?”
Move Forward: This week examine the life of Christ by reading in the Gospel of John. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and to open your eyes to one way that you can begin to imitate Christ.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1
Let Go: There is no way around it... moving and adjusting to a new home are stressful. When we are stressed we can often have less energy to bring to the relationships around us. The result is a “short fuse” when it comes to dealing with the people who are closest to us, especially our family.
Start Today: You can set the “tone” in your household with calm, confident, loving responses. Test Proverbs 15:1 and respond gently to those around you. Take note of its effect. Did you see anger diffused as a result?
Move Forward: Not only respond gently, but each day tell each person in your family at least one thing that you appreciate about him or her.
Challenge 48 "God... manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God..." II Corinthians 2:14-15 Let Go: What will make you different is not that you are new in town, but that the fragrance of Christ surrounds you. You will be known not only by how you bloom, but by His fragrance that you wear. - Susan Miller Start Over: You have the opportunity for a fresh start to "bloom" in this new place! Be a sweet aroma of Christ to all those you meet, be who you are, and radiate the beauty of Christ from within your heart. Move Ahead: Ask yourself: What impression do I want to make as a newcomer in town? Write down all the ways you want to personally begin with a fresh start. Include what you want to change (habits, patterns, attitude...) in order to bloom for Christ. |
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