Matthew 25:35-40 - "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."
Recently I’ve wanted to take my faith to a higher level. To bear more and better fruits, so I’ve been looking into how to apply scriptures to my life, to act them out in real life. To have practical, actionable steps to take.
Here is a list of practical actions to take each day for two weeks to deepen your faith, trust, and love for God.
Day 1 - Read the Bible
Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:16a - ‘‘All scripture is given by inspiration of God’’
Psalm 119:105 - ‘‘Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.’’
Matthew 4:4 - ‘‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.’’
James 1:22 - ‘‘But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.’’
The Challenge
Set aside 30 minutes to read your Bible today. If you are not sure where to start here are a few ideas.
Choose a topic you want to study and dedicate the allotted time to it!
Psalms 23-27
The Book of Philippians
The Book of James
1 John
Proverbs 1-5
The Armor of God - Studying Ephesians 6:10-18 and its application in daily life.
The Beatitudes - Exploring Matthew 5:3-12 and they mean for Christian living.
The Fruits of the Spirit - Read, study, and reflect upon Galatians 5:22-23.
Day 2 - Pray
Scriptures
Romans 8:26 - ‘‘Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.’’
Matthew 26:41 - ‘‘Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’’
Colossians 4:2a - ‘‘Continue in prayer…’’
1 Thessalonians 5:17 - ‘‘Pray without ceasing.’’
The Challenge
Go to a quiet place, away from people, traffic, distractions, and your phone.
Dedicate 30 minutes just talking to God, praying, reconnecting—and confiding—in Him. Don’t be ashamed to come before Him, but do come before Him wholeheartedly!
It’s okay if it takes a few minutes before words start coming. Just stay present, and keep on reaching out to Him.
Day 3 - Gratitude, Joy, and Praise
Scriptures
Psalms 100:1-2 - ‘‘Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.’’
1 Corinthians 15:57 - ‘‘But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’’
Psalm 95:2 - ‘‘Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.’’
Psalm 69:30 - ‘‘I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.’’
1 Corinthians 10:31 - ‘‘Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.’’
The Challenge
Make today all about being grateful, joyful, and praising God!
Smile, be silly. Jump and sing! Serving God, living for Him, shouldn’t be a somber experience. Just think, God Almighty loved you so much that He was willing to sacrifice His Son so that your sins might be erased, and that you could spend eternity with Him! We are washed clean because of Him! That is cause for celebration!!
Praise Him in nature, in miracle, in your loved ones!
Shed the heavy blanket this world so subtly throws over you. Shake off the burden. Look up at the heavens! Lift up your eyes!
Day 4 - Serve
Scriptures
Galatians 5:13 - ‘‘For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.’’
Matthew 25:40 - ‘‘And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’’
Colossians 3:23 - ‘‘And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.’’
The Challenge
Perhaps it’s taking some burden off your spouse, perhaps it’s helping a friend or family member who has a lot on their plate. Volunteer with your church or serve your community. Set aside a few hours today to serve others.
Day 5 - Fast
Scriptures
Joel 2:12 - ‘‘Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.’’
Matthew 6:16-18 - ‘‘Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Psalm 69:10 - ‘‘When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.’’
Matthew 17:20-21 - ‘‘And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.’’
The Challenge
Is there something that takes up too much time in your life? Is there something that occupies your mind too much?
Today, set that thing aside. Take a break from it, and instead spend that time praying and reading scriptures.
Day 6 - Forgiveness
Scriptures
Ephesians 4:32 - ‘‘And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.’’
Mark 11:25 - ‘‘And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.’’
Matthew 18:21-22 - ‘‘Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.’’
Matthew 6:14 - ‘‘For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.’’
The Challenge
Is there someone who have wronged you? Someone you still feel anger towards? Spend today in prayer and really confront your feelings about them and let the anger go. Forgive them. And if it’s fitting, reach out to them, make amends and let them know that you are not angry towards them anymore.
Day 7 - Take a Sabbath
Read Scripture
Exodus 20:8-10a - ‘‘Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work…’’
Mark 2:27 - ‘‘And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath.’’
The Challenge
Even God rested on the seventh day. In today’s hustle culture, taking a day to slow down and relax is pretty much unheard of but a Sabbath day is highly underrated. Take one. Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for us. Take this gift and enjoy it!
Day 8 - Tithe
Read Scripture
Matthew 6:21 - ‘‘For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.’’
Deuteronomy 8:18a - ‘‘But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth.’’
2 Corinthians 9:6-8 - ‘‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.’’
The Challenge
Take a moment to give to the needy. Give to your church or donate to a non-profit organization.
Remember that you are a steward of God’s possessions. He doesn’t want us to be stingy.
Day 9 - Extend a Generous Hand
Read Scripture
Matthew 25:34-40 - ‘‘Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.’’
The Challenge
Find an opportunity to help today. Look for someone who might be struggling, strike up a conversation, buy them a coffee, help however you might be needed, be that time, money, or even labor.
Day 10 - Being
Read Scripture
Hebrews 13:16 - ‘‘But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.’’
The Challenge
Dedicate some time to your family today. Be present, interact with them. Set your phone aside. Encourage conversations with them, make them laugh, make them smile. Talk about God.
Day 12 - Bible Study
Read Scripture
Matthew 18:20 - ‘‘For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’’
1 Corinthians 5:4 - ‘‘In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ.’’
Hebrews 10:24-25 - ‘‘And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.’’
Colossians 3:16 - ‘‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.’’
The Challenge
Gather one or two other people and do a 30-45 minute Bible study today. Pray, read scripture and discuss it together.
Day 13 - Witness
Read Scripture
Matthew 29:19-20 - ‘‘Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.’’
Matthew 10:32 - ‘‘Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.’’
Matthew 5:14:16 - ‘‘Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
The Challenge
Share God today. Give Him credit and be a witness for Him today!
Day 14 - Break Bread
Read Scripture
Acts 2:46 - ‘‘And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart.’’
1 Corinthians 10:16 - ‘‘The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?’’
Acts 2:42 - ‘‘And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.’’
The Challenge
Plan a lunch or dinner with all your loved ones to the glory of God. Praise Him while you eat and commune.
If you have been inspired to serve in other ways while doing this challenge, write them down and do them as each day comes!
I sincerely hope this has helped others, even if it is just one, grow closer to their Creator and Savior!!
Thank you for reading and I hope you have a blessed weekend and week ahead!