Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)

Questions to ask:

• Is my family getting the best of me?
• Do I have people in my life who “fill me up” relationally? Am I spending enough time with them?
• Am I having enough fun with friends?
• Are there unaddressed conflicts in any of my relationships?

Things you can do this week:

• Make an unscheduled phone call 😱
• Write a letter and mail it! 🤭
• Drive-by a friends house with treats or simply stop by because you were in the neighborhood.*
• Join a small group**
• Plan out your summer (yes, we can still make summer plans!) with friends where and when you’ll get together.*

Ways you can grow:

• Get out of your comfort zone and volunteer. You just need to sign up! (Community Cares, etc.)
• Practice forgiveness (Psalm 139:23, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”)

For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. (1 Cor. 6:20)
Give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. (Romans 12:1)

Questions to ask:

• Do I know what activities/practices help me relax? Am I setting aside adequate time for them?
• Am I getting enough sleep?
• What vegetables have I eaten in the past 2 days? 🥗
• Have I been treating food as fuel or as comfort? 
• When was the last time I flossed? 😬 Am I brushing my teeth enough?
• Am I limiting the amount of caffeine I drink? Alcohol?

Things you can do:

• Get moving. The hardest part is often getting started. Just tie your shoes on and get out the door.
• Take deep breaths. Look up “4-7-8 breathing” for anxiety relief.
• Maintain a sleep schedule. Most adults need 7-9 hours of sleep.
• Make a meal plan for the week.

Ways you can grow:

• Start a workout plan. Schedule it out for the month and DO it.
• Try a new recipe.
• Practice meditation.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2)

Questions to ask:

• What are my dominant thoughts? Do they bring me closer to God?
  • Pray this: “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.” (Phil 4:8 NIV)

• Do I know what activities/practices help me rest? Am I setting aside adequate time for them?

Things to do:

• Dig out a hobby you used to enjoy. Think about what you used to do before having smartphones, TVs, social media, etc. and do it!
• Find the silver lining.
• Limit intake of news/social media to once/day.
• Exercise gratitude (5-min journal – Great way to combat fear and anxiety)
• Slow down your mind. Practice being present; do one thing at a time.

Ways to grow:

• Avoid escapist practices: alcohol, TV, drugs, etc.
• Quit something every Thursday (Love Does).
• Turn screens off for 24 hours once/week.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Ps 90:12)

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” (Luke 17:5)

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (Lamentations 3:40)

Questions to ask:

• How would I describe my relationship with God right now?
• Do I feel close to God?
• Do I know what spiritual practices keep my heart intimately connected to God? Am I protecting time for these practices in my daily/weekly schedule?
• Is there sin in my life that I need to confess and repent of?

Things to do:

• Begin each day with prayer and in God’s Word. Sign up for our daily BRP here
• Attend Online Church
• Listen to/watch messages on-demand
• Pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17)
• Practice Sabbath

Ways to grow:

• Identify your spiritual gifts and put them to work!
• Utilize COMMUNITY’s abundance of resources.
• Deepen your faith by learning more about prayer, baptism, etc.
• Get involved! Serve on a team, join a group, etc.
• B.L.E.S.S. your neighbor