Discipleship 5K

Week One: Get Ready to Begin

It is important to work on your body, mind, and spirit to support wellness. Discipleship 5K is a framework created to help you work on all three. Start your exercise time with prayer by reading the daily scripture, the reflection, and journal exercise. Then as you work on your physical fitness, you will spend the time thinking about what you just read, allowing God’s Word to motivate you to do your best. Your workout time will become sacred time because you will be meditating on God’s Word and reflecting on how you will complete the journal exercise. Throughout the Discipleship 5K you will be building your muscles to make you physically stronger, but you will also grow spiritually by connecting daily to scripture and deepening your relationship with God and with others. It is time to begin.

Week Two: Tools for the Physical Journey

The physical activities in Discipleship 5K require you to move your body with intention. No matter what level you are at physically, there is one thing you absolutely need to be a successful walker, jogger, or runner and that is a good pair of walking or running shoes. When you do not have good shoes, you are likely to get a blister, stub a toe, or twist an ankle. You do not have to buy a new pair, but you do need to have shoes with stability and tread as you will be putting some miles on your shoes.

However, do not allow money to become an obstacle in this challenge. Your success depends on you, not the fancy shoes, socks, clothes, or workout accessories the world tells you are necessary. Instead, use what you already have in your closet, garage, or pantry. For example, if you do not have dumbbells for strength training, use canned goods or a bottle of water or some other household item for weights. Remember, the goal is to get your body moving, do not think you need to spend a bunch of money to do this challenge. Be creative and do what is comfortable for you.

Week Three: Tools for the Spiritual Journey

You need to gather up your tools for the spiritual journey. Start the week off with inspiration from your favorite authors, prayer books and scripture. It can be in the form of an inspirational quote, a family motto, or a Bible verse but this week you will add tools you need to stay motivated on the journey. These words can help you grow spiritually but also motivate you when you are feeling tired or weak. This week you will focus on prayer and practice leaning on God to help you though, even when you think it is impossible.

Week Four: Change Will Do You Good

Congratulations, you are still here! Whether you have found a groove or gotten into a rut, it is time to introduce new exercises or hit a new trail. This week is about staying motivated as you come to the end of the first month of the challenge. You do not want to get bored with your exercise routine because if you are uninterested in doing the workout, the likelihood of reaching the goal is null. Find a new park to take your walk, ask a friend or co-worker if they will join you for a yoga or kick-boxing class at the community center, or download a new exercise app on your phone or tablet; the goal is to mix it up so you can look forward to your exercise time.

Week Five: Celebrate Your Accomplishments

The definition of a disciple is someone who follows Jesus’ teachings. Look back on how you have learned to be a better disciple over the past four weeks. There are so many things you have done to become a more devoted disciple by making your exercise time a priority and dedicating time with God in prayer; you should be so proud of yourself.

Celebrate your accomplishments thus far, but do not lose sight of what is still ahead of you. This past month you have been building the strength to persevere. Keep going! Do not get discouraged when you look forward, find ways to stay encouraged and keep the momentum going. Turn to God to help you push past the negative thoughts of 'I can't' and believe 'YOU CAN!' The scripture and journal exercise’s this week will help you continue to make strides towards changing your mindset and build on the success you have already achieved.

Week Six: Inspiration from the World

This week marks the halfway point of Discipleship 5K, and you might be teeter-tottering between the good and the bad of the challenge. It is time to go in search of some words of wisdom to help get you over the hump and keep you moving forward towards your goal. You do not only get inspiration from the Bible, but from people all over the world. Your hard work is paying off, you have come so far but you are not in this alone. There are several people who are known for being motivational speakers or having said something inspirational and their words are there to remind you how formidable you are for all you have done and to encourage you to do more.

For example, Oprah Winfrey said, “Life is about growth and change.” These words are great for this challenge because you can look back at how you have grown and changed through the process. You can use your journal entries to remind you of how far you have come since the beginning and help you identify some changes you still want to make. It is a reminder that life is not about standing still but about forming and reforming yourself into the person you and God want you to be.