And we’re off! Welcome to Day 1 of the Next Step Challenge
In our inaugural video, we’ll learn the Key Truth for the week (from Jerry White), “There are only three things that last for eternity: God, the word of God, and the human soul. As much as we invest in those three things, we invest in eternity.”
Our Key Verse (to memorize for the week) is from Ephesians 5:15-16: “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”
In this video, Gregg films on location at a place where people reflect on eternity.
Another key verse mentioned in the video is Psalm 90:12: “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
What’s the Day 1 Challenge?
Track your time this week.
We don’t all have the same education, finances, gifts, or abilities. But we all have the same amount of time. Each of us is given 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 24 hours in a day.
Instead of wishing you had more time, strive to utilize best the time you do have. That is easier said than done, but to properly assess our use (and sometimes misuse) of time, we need to get the facts.
- How much are you working?
- How much do you continue to work after work hours?
- How often do you use your phone?
- How much media do you consume?
- How much time do you spend with God?
This is not a guilt trip. It’s a fact-finding mission. We’ll spend the rest of our week reflecting on our use of time, considering what matters most and how we can do more than achieve and acquire things that provide temporary enjoyment.
Please note: there’s nothing wrong with temporary enjoyment. When we laugh and share and play and take pleasure in all that life offers, it’s a form of worship. But when we regularly invest in things that have eternal value, it frees us to enjoy life’s pleasure even more.
Track your time this week and discuss your findings with your teammates. (Yes, that’s a terrific use of time.)
Thank you for this first step about managing and recording the redeemed time for the men who choose to walk in this journey.
Thank you for your encouragement about redeeming my time.
Absolutely. Praying with you and all the men participating.
It is a real eye opener when we see what we spend the most of our time on during a single day. Sometimes discouraging, but all we have to do is to better ourselves a little bit everyday. God wants us to be more like Him, but I believe little by little every day is a starting point. Praying 🙏
Good word!