Do y’all ever feel like you have an overwhelming amount of stuff so you never end of up using ANY of it to it’s full potential?? Now, I’m not just talking about the 4 black cardigans you own (that’s a problem all on it’s own!). I’m talking about the amazing, practical, encouraging items we buy thinking “YES! I need this. I can do so much better in my life if I have ____”.

We buy ____ … and then it collects dust on our desk because we never actually USE it. In our head, it’s a beautiful thing. We bought it because we felt like we could learn & grow and be so much BETTER if we had it. But then it just sits there because we’re too afraid to “mess it up” or we’re too overwhelmed with The Beginning. I can’t be the only one who does this, right??

I’ll be honest with you … The Beginning of things always overwhelms me the most. It took me MONTHS to fill out my Powersheets because the task just seemed so daunting!!! I was terrified to even START!!! I’ve found that I tend to get anxious when there’s one big pile vs. neatly-tended-smaller-piles. I like to take one GIANT thing and break it into small, doable, realistic things. That’s how my brain works. I LITERALLY start to visually a timeline or a chart on how to conquer said task, before doing it! So for me, when I buy or look at an amazing item (i.e. Powersheets), designed to HELP my life, it’s easy to get anxious about the beginning stages.

I’ve found myself doing this with a two things recently …

My Prayer Journal

–Prayer Journal by Val Marie Paper: It’s so pink & new & fresh & pretty & I wonder: how in the world can I fill it while still keeping it clean?? So I let it sit on my desk & I’ve been staring at it for over a month. Ugh! So tell me, how in the WORLD am I allowing this journal to HELP me or to fulfill the purpose Val designed it for? I’m not. By not using it, I’m (a) wasting money buying it and (b) still stuck in the same old prayer-rut.

My Bible

-Yep. Sad, isn’t it? I’ve found that unless I’m in a group study, looking at the Bible makes me somewhat anxious. For one, it’s HUGE. There are 66 amazing books. And when I’m not participating in a group study (i.e. bible study or Sunday morning sermon), I sit down with my Bible and think “where do I even begin?!”. I’ve read a lot of the Bible; I grew up in a Christian home, went to Christian school & have genuinely always loved church, youth group & small group studies. But I have always, ALWAYS struggled with one-on-one time. My thoughts go like this: “Should I start with Genesis? What about in the middle with Psalms? Or maybe I’ll jump straight to the New Testament & go with Acts?” And, friends, let’s be honest… Jesus just wants me to READ it & STUDY it & GET TO KNOW HIM. I’m sure He’s laughing at my anxious heart & telling me to JUMP IN and READ IT!!!!

So why am I telling you all of this?? I promise I DO have a point:)

After the Contentment Challenge “officially” ended, I was a little confused as to what I was doing next. Something big had ended and I felt like I needed to keep going… to keep challenging myself. I’ve found that I NEED accountability & I long for friendship with other women going through similar things. I am NOT self-disciplined… so honestly, the very public challenges have helped me IMMENSLY because I put it out there for the blog/social media to see, and then I feel I need to finish what I started!!! Accountability at it’s best!

My friend Taylor shared this blog post yesterday & I got SO excited!!! It was honestly at the PERFECT time because I had just looked at my dust-covered Prayer Journal and thought, “Geez, Kat you need to start using this!!!”. AND, to make things even better, this challenge is starting at the same time. As I said, my individual Bible time is really lacking, so being challenged to read Scripture every day in the month of May is going to be so, so good for my heart.

2 AMAZING challenges that go together SO WELL and come at the PERFECT time in my life! Talk about a “God thing”!!! I’m so excited to jump in on May 1st, and wanted to share them with you know in case you feel lead to do them, too!!

If you don’t have a Prayer Journal, I know they are still available & it would arrive just a few day after the challenge begins. I would LOVE to pray for you, so please email me or comment below with ways I can be praying for you in May.

And, hopefully you have The Word of God in your home (or electronic device) & can jump in on Thursday alongside me!! There are 31 days in May, so I’ve decided to read 1 chapter a day … I’m going to start with the book of Luke (24 chapters) and then read the first 7 chapters of Acts since chronologically, Acts happened right after Jesus.

I’m so grateful Val & Kristin felt lead to share these challenges & can’t wait to see what the month of May has in store!!! Be sure to follow along with their hashtags … Val: #vmpprayer #vmptravels #vmpjournal  and Kristin: #lampandlight

And, please, please, please let me know if you’re doing it, too!!! I’d love to encourage you along the way:)

xo!! kat