Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭22‬-‭23‬ ‭NIV —- Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.‬‬

Join us for a walk as we wind up our week focusing on the last 90 days of the year. What area is a struggle for you? Click here to watch our See You Saturday post.

1 Corinthians 2:19-20 NIV — Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

The last of Rachel Hollis’ “5 to Thrive” habits for the Last 90 Days Challenge is to eat food that blesses your body. She encourages giving up one food category a month that you know you shouldn’t be eating. What would that category be for you?

The Last 90 Days Challenge is a way to refocus our eating habits but we should also make healthy eating a habit as a way to take care of God’s temple, our body. Have you really taken the time to realize all the reasons you need to eat food that blesses your body? You and your body were bought at a price. Jesus Christ died for you and for me. For that, we should be eternally thankful and show our gratitude by taking care of the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells. What food can you give up or eat today to bless your body?

Let’s pray. Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus Christ to die for me. Forgive me for not taking care of Your temple. Help me to eat food to bless my body. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV — Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

If you have read our Water Walkers blog for a while or if you know me personally, you know that writing down 5 gratitudes each day is a daily habit I adopted years ago. Rachel Hollis also encourages this practice in the Last 90 Days Challenge.

Being intentional about writing down gratitudes helps to focus my attention on all the positives in my life instead of the negatives. Looking for gratitudes helps me to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Writing down 5 different gratitudes each day is a way to teach me to “rejoice always.” I have learned to look for not only bigger blessings like my family, friends, and work, but also smaller blessings such as time to sit with my sweet pup on my lap while I drink my morning cup of coffee.

Have you tried to practice writing down 5 different gratitudes each day? If not, can you commit to this practice for the last 90 days of 2023? I assure you that this habit will change your focus and outlook on life. 

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes to all I have to be thankful for and refocus my attention. Guide my thoughts as I learn to “rejoice always” and “give thanks in all circumstances.” In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

John 4:13-14 NIV — Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Are you an avid water drinker? In her Last 90 Days plan, Rachel Hollis suggests we drink half our body weight in ounces of water each day. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds then drink 100 ounces of water. Do you drink that much water? I don’t. I drink a fair amount of water, but I need to focus on being more intentional about drinking water. Click here to read “15 Benefits Of Drinking Water” from Medical News Today.

In John 4, Jesus talks with the woman at the well about the benefits of drinking the water only He can give. Do you drink the water Jesus gives daily? Do you join Him at the well and allow Him to quench your thirst? Today let’s focus on allowing Jesus’ water to quench our thirst as we also strive to drink ½ our body weight in water. By doing so we will be nourishing ourselves spiritually and physically.

Let’s pray. Dear God, give me Your water to quench my thirst and lead me to eternal life. Today, give me the capacity to fill up with Your water and the resolve to drink more water daily. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Matthew 6:33 NIV — But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

The Last 90 Days Challenge includes waking up an hour earlier each day to take time for yourself. Rachel Hollis encourages using the extra time in the morning to do something that is just for you.

Years ago I adopted this and I established the habit of getting up earlier than everyone else. My time in the morning is my favorite time of day. My mornings by myself  include reading devotions and scripture, prayer, writing for our Water Walkers blog, and of course drinking coffee.

How could you use that hour to yourself?  Are you willing to make the commitment to get up an hour earlier? Perhaps you already get up early. How can you restructure your time to include time to seek God first?

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to prioritize waking up early to seek You. Show me ways to structure my time to include activities that are just for me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 MSG — You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally. I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No lazy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

Do you like to exercise? How often do you workout? As part of the Last 90 Days Challenge, Rachel Hollis encourages us to move at least 30 minutes a day. She doesn’t specify how, but instead teaches us that even jumping on a trampoline with your children or turning up the music and dancing are ways to incorporate movement into your day. How can you think outside of the box and incorporate movement into your day?

In today’s featured scripture, Paul encourages us to “run to win” in our spiritual lives. What do you do to run spiritually? How are you training for your heavenly finish line?

Find ways today to get up and move physically and spiritually.

Let’s pray. Dear God, help me to get up and move. Show me ways to incorporate movement into my day and to run spiritually towards my heavenly finish line. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Colossians 3:2 NIV — Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Starting today we begin the last 90 days of the year. How is 2023 going for you? Are you finishing the year strong? Often we start the year with a list of goals and intentions but quickly lose resolve. Rachel Hollis, author and motivational speaker, chooses to look at the last 90 days of the year as a time to reflect, refocus, and reset in order to end the year the best way possible. In her Last 90 Days Challenge, Hollis suggests habits to help the last of the year be successful. She calls these habits “5 to Thrive.” This week we will explore her ideas in hopes we can all finish the last 90 days of 2023 strongly. As we worship this Shine Sunday, let’s begin to reflect, refocus, and reset.

Let’s pray. Dear God, open my eyes, ears, mind, and heart to Your presence today. Help me to begin the process of reflecting, refocusing, and resetting as I approach the last 90 days of 2023. May reflecting Your light be my primary goal. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.