I won’t go into all the details, but 2024 has been a wild year and has taken its toll on me both physically and mentally. I really felt the need in my spirit for a refresh and thought about doing the 40 Days of Purpose study. However, that would’ve only impacted my spirit and felt like I needed more.
I discovered that Pastor Rick Warren was also behind The Daniel Plan, a study/program that cuts across five areas of life, and was the comprehensive mind/spirit/body reset I was looking for.
However, I want this to be more than a reset, I want a reversal, and that begins with repentance.
So, after prayer and introspection, here are my statements of repentance for the five areas of my life I will be working to reverse over the next 40 days:
Faith
I recognize that I have not been intentional about hiding the Word in my heart as instructed in Deuteronomy 6:6-7. I regret that this has been displeasing to God as it displays a lack of desire to know Him and His Word more intimately. I will reverse this over the next 40 days by memorizing the 52 verses of The Joshua Code and writing each verse ~25 times.
Food
I recognize that I have not consistently been intentional about the food I consume, forgetting that even eating should be done to glorify God as described in 1 Corinthians 10:31. I regret that this has resulted in a temple unworthy of the Spirit that inhabits it. I will reverse this over the next 40 days by:
- Not consuming alcohol
- Getting most of my calories from nutritionally complete meal shakes or meals prepared at home with high-quality beef, chicken, fish and fresh vegetables.
- Avoiding sugar and processed foods.
- Drinking at least 75oz of water a day.
- Tracking my food and water consumption in the Fitbit app.
Fitness
I recognize that I have not consistently been intentional about viewing and treating my body as God’s temple as instructed in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20. I regret that this has resulted in times when I am too tired or weak to fulfill the work God has called me to do. I will reverse this over the next 40 days by doing a cardio, strength, or stretching workout at least 5x a week, and tracking my progress in the Fitbit app.
Focus
I recognize that I have not made full use of the gifts and talents given to me, and at times have been the “evil and lazy” servant described in Matthew 25:14-30 due to my lack of focus. I regret that this is displeasing to God as He has not received an adequate return on his investment in me and reveals an apathetic attitude towards becoming all He has called me to be and doing all He has called me to do. I will reverse this over the next 40 days by using the SMART goal framework for everything I do, professionally and personally, and keeping track of my goals in Microsoft To Do.
Friends
I recognize that I have not always been the type of friend described in Proverbs 18:24 that “sticks closer than a brother” and often allow extended periods of time to pass without communication. I regret that this is displeasing to God as He is unable to work in my friends’ lives through me as designed in Proverbs 17:17. I will never become a “brother born for difficult times” by only being a friend that “loves” from afar. I will reverse this over the next 40 days by:
- Creating a list of friends, not acquaintances, but friends.
- Create a communication plan for each one that includes text and, ugh, phone calls.
- Using my calendar and Microsoft To Do to schedule the plans on a recurring basis with reminders.