Welcome to the Womens Bible Cafe™ and our Faith Dare study! We are reading and discussing The Faith Dare by Debbie Alsdorf.
(image: Unsplash)
Guest Blogger Debbie Alsdorf
This is the beginning of a 30 day faith challenge, The Faith Dare. Today represents an important mental shift that will help us get ready for the spiritual re-boot that will happen as we daily walk out the Biblical Truth we are reading in each day’s dare.
Why do we need to challenge our thoughts and beliefs?
Because if we don’t hold on to faith in God, we will learn to live according to our own understanding, reasonings and emotions.
Life is filled with challenges. From small to large, each day we are presented with many choices. Will we trust God? Will we put our faith in Him? Or will we live like the rest of the world, just getting by, pushing ourselves to be better, stressing ourselves to try harder? Scripture has much to offer us, much to teach us, and much to challenge us with.
For instance…let’s think of the Samaritan woman. She was a woman like us. She had a past that she hoped could be changed into a better future. She put up with disappointing relationships and the circumstances of the day. She was a sinner and she knew it. It’s not that she was proud of it, but she knew her steps and mis-steps. Her view was changed the day she met a Jewish man at the watering hole, a man who promised her that if she drank the water he gave her, she would never thirst again. She hoped it could be true, and maybe you hope it could be true too.
It’s time to drink from God. Time to live our lives differently. This is the season to look up into his eyes while listening closely to his voice. When we do we will find the source that will fill us in such a way that we will never thirst again. Now is the time to begin.
Let’s begin the re-boot with a Scriptural base:
Colossians 3:1-3, 5, 7, 17
Taken from The Message ( highlighted emphasis mine)
“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ, that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective. Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life–even though invisible to spectators, is with Christ in God. He is your life…That means killing off everything connected with that way of death…That’s a life shaped by things and feelings instead of by God…You’re done with that old life… Let every detail in your lives, words, actions, whatever, be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.”
Let’s begin our reboot:
Power down from self, and come to Christ each day, for the next 30 days. How? By determining an intentional space of time where you will power down from everything else for about 15 minutes as you read that day’s pages in The Faith Dare Book. Reading is not enough, you will then respond to what you have read by being still enough to listen to God speaking to your heart.
The first section is a preparation for the dare. It speaks of trials and tests actually producing something within us, and this section is an important part of the dare. After the introduction you will then start the 30 day dare. You may want to journal and you will want to end with prayer. That intentional time is step #1, the rest comes in practicing walking out the truth that you just processed. Walking out the truth, is the dare. If mornings are hard for you, try doing the reading and processing before bed, with a plan to practice the DARE the entire next day. Always remember to pray, asking God’s Spirit to do the work of freedom within you as you dare to walk by Faith in the Promises of God.
Open up to new possibilities, experience the difference he makes in a surrendered life. I am praying for us all, each day, during this time. I am daring my self as I am daring you….to run into the arms of Jesus, learning to reframe our lives in the truth of His Love for us.
Assignment For The Week
- Read The Introduction, and Chapters One and Two in the Faith Dare book
- Beginning on the 1st of the month, start reading the first dare…then on the 2nd the second dare and so forth…..
- Each daily dare ends with three journal questions for you to answer. Use the book or a personal journal and complete these daily.
- Each daily dare ends with a “Daily Prayer.” If you have a smart phone, I want you to read the prayer aloud and RECORD your own voice saying the prayer. Use the voice memo app on your smart phone if you have this, and then later in the day play back your own voice with the prayer.
- Join a small group discussion at the Womens Bible Cafe™
Do we purchase these books ourselves?
We are a volunteer ministry and do not charge for our studies, so you will need to use your own book. The Faith Dare is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or Kindle and Nook.
My Mom always had this saying, “Don’t tell me what I can’t do…” because then she would prove them wrong and do it. I guess I’m a little like that, When I think of the word “dare” if it isn’t something completely stupid, I probably would take it like a challenge. Maybe I would make it, maybe not, but I don’t usually have a lot at stake in it. The thing I like about this “dare” is I know others are doing it with me.
It reminds me of challenging ourselves…
1.When you hear the word “dare” what thoughts come to mind? Does it excite you or scare you? It reminds me of a childhood game we played and to be honest I ENJOY a good dare if it will bear fruit..LOL
2.What do you think your biggest challenge will be as you spend 30 days in a daily devotional study? staying focused the 30 days (please pray for us daily)
3.When do you intend to read your Faith Dare book…morning, evening or another time? So you have a special place to sit and journal? I will bew reading at different times, mostly evening but on the weekends early morning.
4.The Faith Dare is a fasting from self. If you have fasted from food, or during an activity such as Lent, what has been your experience with fasting? I can only do the Daniel fast, and it has brought clarity to my ponderings. What are the challenges and what are the rewards? the challenge is sticking with it and remembering to pray when I feel weak, the reward is the intimacy with God and being able to clearly feel the connection (a by product could be a small weight loss)
5.(optional) What are you MOST afraid of, and how will having a STRONGER faith help you conquer that? Umm honestly I don’t have any fears going into this study, I will pray and let it go.
Fortunately this is a devotional and you’ll spend 15 minutes a day focused in study! Some of our other Bible studies have been more intense and much longer..so this is a nice summer study to enjoy! See if you can create a habit of reading 15 min each day at the same time…this is a challenge to you Missy… like the Dare Game, LOl 😉
so excited to start this study with my daughter in law Amanda.she just had a baby , my first grandson and is home for awhile . You all prayed for her a few days ago. Thank You
Q1: I am the least courageous person I know…and a dare on my own would terrify me. Putting God at the center of my dare gives me a new vision and a new perspective. I’m no longer depending on self to complete the dare…I am depending on Christ in me. THAT is my confidence and THAT motivates me to take the dare.
Q2: Crying. The more time I spend alone with God, the more my heart opens to Him and I find myself crying. Sometimes it’s tears of Joy, sometimes grief. I’m not comfortable crying so this is a challenge for me… to visibly express my emotions….in His Presence. He already knows my heart…now He wants me to know it too 😉
Q3: In the morning before my day is cluttered. I set my cell phone alarm to remind me to complete my Faith Dare. Each dare ends with the same three journal questions. I answer mine in the morning and then during the day the Holy Spirit reveals something to me based on that morning’s dare. Powerful
Q4: When I am fasting, I am blessed by my quiet time with the Lord. At the same time, I attract attention from Satan so I pray and resist him.
I hear the word “dare” and I’m afraid. I do not like getting out of my comfort zone and letting things go is difficult for me. I hope by fasting I will find that I am stronger than I think I am and learn to have faith. I will have a difficult time with the reading schedule since I have an erratic daily schedule because of my job. Each day I intend to look at the next day and block out the time I need. I am excited to put my life in God’s hands.
Q1 When you hear the word “dare” what thoughts come to mind? Does it excite you or scare you?
… something risky or forbidden When we were young we would dare each other to do things that we would get in trouble for or that we knew were dangerous. It doesn’t have a positive connotation in my mind.
Q2 What do you think your biggest challenge will be as you spend 30 days in a daily devotional study?
… being consistent with my journaling
Q3 When do you intend to read your Faith Dare book…morning, evening or another time? So you have a special place to sit and journal?
… In the morning after finishing my Through the Bible and Revise Our Hearts readings.
… Any time I sit down in front of the computer and think of opening Hulu
Q4a The Faith Dare is a fasting from self. If you have fasted from food, or during an activity such as Lent, what has been your experience with fasting?
… It’s been too long ago to remember
Q4b What are the challenges and what are the rewards?
… see above
(optional) What are you MOST afraid of, and how will having a STRONGER faith help you conquer that?
… losing my daughter or grandchildren. Since I have never been “tried by fire” I have always thought it was because God doesn’t give us more than we can bear and He knew I couldn’t cope with a lot. By studying more and spending more time in the Word I sometimes think “now that God has lead me to be prepared, maybe the big trials and tests are ahead.” I can’t think of one that would be harder than something happening to my daughter or grandchildren.
Q1: a challenge! I loooove a challenge!
Q2: my biggest challenge will be staying conscience and aware of my actions and words every moment of everyday. It’s easy to “check out” mentally with 3 you g children at home running you ragged!
Q3: I plan on waking a 1/2 hour early to read and journal before even getting out of bed.
Q4: fasting is never easy and I struggle with trivializing a small misstep as no big deal. It doesnt count if it was only one or once right?? To God it does count. I have to keep telling myself that over and over.
Q5: I’m most afraid of failure. Having a stronger faith will help me overcome those self destructing negative tendencies of mine.
1. A dare has always meant doing something I have not done before, or taking something I have done to a new level. There is usually an element of danger or risk involved. It generates a feeling of excitement but there is also an element of fear.
2. My biggest challenges will be to consistently find the time with all the other demands on my time and to maintain the excitement of a new challenges as the days pass. This is the first time I have tried this type of study so right now I am very excited about trying it.
3.The best time for reading will be in the morning before I leave for work because once the day begins rolling, there is little time in between. The journaling part will be before bed, when I have time to reflect on my day.
4. I have participated in a 30 day Daniel fast, and multiple days with a church family. I usually fast one day per week from bedtime one night until 6:00pm the next day. It is a challenge for me because I do not like fasting at all. The rewards however keep me trying. I find my thoughts and my focus is more toward the spiritual when I do.
5. I am most afraid of becoming complacent in my walk with God and losing that precious connection without even being aware until like Samson I shake myself, but the connection to God is missing. I also am afraid of not being an effective witness to my world because I miss the opportunities God makes for me to do so. Increasing faith will address both these fears.
So glad you are joining us Barbara…prayerfully this devotional study will keep you walking with God daily, developing a deeper love for Him as you spend quite time together.
I am excited to begin this 30 day bible study. I am still waiting for my book and hope it will be here in the next day or so. Hearing the word “Dare” causes me to feel a level of anticipatory excitement but it is also scary. I can be a risk taker but if I had a truth or dare question – I would probably choose truth… My biggest challenge will be committing the time to do this. I plan to read my book in the evening as well as in the morning if I have time before work. I will do my journaling at night and sticky note my thoughts throughout the day as well. I find fasting to be a challenge – though I can be very determined as well. I am most afraid that this bible study won’t have an impact within me.
You will have time before work, it only requires 15 minutes each day 🙂
Q1. When I think of a “dare” it is excites me and scares me because usually dares are something that people don’t do on a regular basis.
Q.2 Trying to get it in my schedule before my day starts or anybody else is up because I have to leave Monday-Friday by 7:15am and on the weekend everybody is home. (daughter/her husband and grandkids live with us)
Q3. I plan to read it in the morning.
Q.4 I have never really done a fast for spiritual reasons, but have tried changing my eating habits from sugar which is always a challenge. The challenge is if it is at my home I want to eat it. However the rewards of not eating it is I feel SO much better.
Q5. My biggest fear is that I will be out of the will of God and allow the world to influence me. As my faith grows stronger I can see more clearly.
I’ve discovered if I don’t invite the Holy Spirit to help me change my eating habits, I get human results. Someone told me last week “even Jesus was tempted by food” and then she shared a scripture verse with me that made a lasting impact.
I can not get the book but even just reading what you all say has already helped thank you. What was the scripture verse she gave you. What is interesting to me is that when my eating is in control I’m closer to God, read the word everyday. Pray more. It is hard to be close to God when your do something you know you shouldn’t.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:1-4 NIV
Q1: When I think of dares, I think of stepping outside of my comfort zone, and putting my faith into something that I’m unsure of. (Interesting thought considering the introduction of the book…) Generally, being dared to do something triggers both excitement and fear for me. I’m excited by the challenge, but also fear in stepping into uncharted territory.
Q2: This is the first study that I have done in this format. I think that my biggest challenge will be to stay motivated and excited through the process. I’m typically amped up and ready to go at the start of new things, but I find my interest and excitement starts to wane before I can really integrate the new process into my life.
Q3: I like to do my reading during my lunch hour at work during the week, and early in the morning on the weekends. During the week, I journal either after I get home from work (it helps me to change my focus from the office to being at home) or right before bed if I have other obligations right after work. To be honest, journaling on the weekends is one of the commitments that I struggle with. I’m going to make a point with this study to try to journal immediately after my reading to see if that will encourage the habit.
Q4: When I have fasted in the past, it has been VERY difficult for me. Living in a society where I can have instant gratification, it’s so hard for me to stay away from that temptation. However, on the occasions where I have dug deep and stuck with it, I have come away learning something about myself, feeling empowered, and feeling more connected spiritually than I usually am.
Q5: This will probably sound silly, but I am most afraid of living a life of mediocrity. I’m fearful that I’m not spending my time doing what I am meant to be doing; I’m fearful that I have missed out on or squandered opportunities that would have led me to the feeling of being where I should be with my life; and I’m fearful of being near the end of the road and feeling disappointed that I didn’t make the most of and cherish this special time that we have here on earth. I believe that by having a stronger faith, I will be more accepting of my life and my roles, I will be more willing to take chances, and I will believe (REALLY BELIEVE) that no matter what, my path is the path that He has made for me, and if I trust in His plan, I will find the happiness and contentment that I have been searching for.
Coffee cup cheers to all of the women participating in this study. I pray that I will learn both from and with you, and that we may emerge recharged with spiritual fullness and new habits to guide us on our journeys. 🙂
Nichole
I am hoping to join this study as I just received my book yesterday. However, right at this moment I am not sure how much I can participate on a regular basis. But will do the best I can. I love reading all the comments.
Join us when you can 🙂
Q1. When I think of a “Dare” I think of something that is going to bring me out of my comfort zone.
Q.2 I think my biggest challenge is actually remembering to do it and to actually remember to apply it during my hardest times of the day.
Q.3 I am a teacher, so during the rest of my summer, I plan on doing this in the morning, and when I go back to work I will do this in the evening.
Q.4 I have previously done a juice fast where I can have nothing but juice that I make myself for 3 days at a time. It’s extremely hard and I found myself praying a lot for God to help me get through it. The benefit was that I felt great and knew that it benefited my body and I leaned on God to get there.
Q.5 What I am most afraid of is having my personality changed. I’m known to be quick-witted and sassy and I don’t want that to change to where I’m a completely different person to my family or friends. I do want God to shape who I am and how I react to things while still being able to keep my personality.
1. When you hear the word “dare” what thoughts come to mind? Do I have the courage to follow through on this or not? Boy, this is a big challenge can I do this and stick with it? Does it excite you or scare you? Excite me more I think for I am always up for some kind of challenge.
2. What do you think your biggest challenge will be as you spend 30 days in a daily devotional study? Mostly finding the time I think…staying with it won’t be as hard.
3. When do you tend to read your Faith Dare book……morning, evening, or another time? Morning, I think. So do you have a special place to sit and journal? Yes, my prayer closet.
4. The Faith Dare is fasting from self. If you have fasted from food, or during Lent what has your experience been with fasting? Staying with it as long as I had planned to.
5. What are you MOST afraid of, and how will having a STRONGER faith help you conquer that? I think I am afraid of finding out how strong my faith really is at this season of my life….I feel as if I am lost and will never find my way back to the Lord or the place I need to be.
Praying you find your place at His side SueAlice
Q1: When I hear the word “dare” I get a little anxious because it usually means me doing something outside of my comfort zone. I get excited and scared at the same time.
Q2: I think my biggest challenge will be for me to actually carry out the dare on a daily basis. And also taking the time to complete the study each day.
Q3: My desire is to complete the study in the morning before going to work so that I can carry out the dare throughout the day, and complete my journal in the evening before bed.
Q4: For the past two mornings I’ve fasted from food until noon. After I got to work, I made it a point to go to the bathroom to pray every hour. I could feel that I was gaining strength and my fears and anxiety was less. The devil would try to remind me of my fears, but I would read a couple of scriptures (that I wrote on sticky notes and stuck to my computer) and I would start to feel a little stronger again. I had been wanting to go on a fast for a while, but did not commit to it because I didn’t want to have to say “no” to my desires. I REALLY love to eat, so I was very glad that I was able to persevere to accomplish my goal :).
Christine, I think it would be great if we could get a Faith Dare T-shirt, with the cover photo on Facebook! Would that be possible?
Great idea, difficult to implement Lisa!
Maybe we could find a way to make it work. I would love to have one of these made, can you imagine the impact it would have and the questions it would provoke, and draw others to Jesus, by giving Him 30 days for 10-15 mins
When you hear the word “dare” what thoughts come to mind? Does it excite you or scare you?
For me dare usually means that I am going to be asked to do something that I wouldn’t normally do–something that I must pushed to do because I am afraid.
What do you think your biggest challenge will be as you spend 30 days in a daily devotional study?
Stay connected and committed. I get so busy and I want /need to do this
When do you intend to read your Faith Dare book…morning, evening or another time? So you have a special place to sit and journal?
Funny thing is that I am a morning person naturally but I think I am going to do this in the evening…..
The Faith Dare is a fasting from self. If you have fasted from food, or during an activity such as Lent, what has been your experience with fasting?
Breakthrough and clarity
What are the challenges and what are the rewards?
(optional) What are you MOST afraid of, and how will having a STRONGER faith help you conquer that? – I am not clear just yet
I’m a morning person too and Faith Dare is challenging me to be more alert in the evenings 😉
1) When I hear the word “dare” I think about when I was a kid and someone would dare me to do something. But now being an adult, I would be kind of scared to hear a dare.
2) My biggest challenge doing this study will be finding the time. I am shooting for the morning before work.
3)My special place to study is in my recliner.
4) My fasting experience was a while ago. I put a 3 Muskateers candy bar on the counter and I wouldn’t touch it until the LORD answered my request. I wanted that candy bar so bad, but my request was very important to me and I was determined to not eat it until I felt like I had my answer from GOD.
Hello
When I hear the word dare I think of be anxious because you know something challenging is about to happen.
Its a feeling that can feel both good and bad at the same time.
My biggest challenge while doing this 30 day study will be devoting my free mornings to spending time with God doing the devotional. I have so much trouble staying committed to my quiet time. Either something happens or I choose to do something different =(
I am a mother of two crazy, sweet boys, so mornings are best for me, it helps me to be a better mom when I spend time with God first in the mornings.
I just finished getting my guest bedroom ready for guest. I plan to spend my quiet time in there because it is clean =)
I have never really fasted before but would love to experience that. I have fasted things like technology and the reward is amazing. You will be surprised at home much of your time you waste spending time on the computer or phone that could be spent with your family.
I am most afraid that my son will be bullied, make bad choices or be afraid when he starts to school this year. He is 5 =) Having stronger faith I believe will give me that peaceful feeling knowing God is in control and he will protect and guide my little man.
Under God’s care and your prayers, your son should be just fine in school!
my son is a very sweet boy who sometimes lets his anger get the best of him. i introduced him to David, king of israel, earlier this summer and he has become infatuated with him! David is a wonderful example of a strong and victorious leader in the bible who sought after God’s own heart. i encourage you to pray over your child and equip him with the Armor of God. also, remember we have to proclaim victory over the battles that are not ours.
I am looking forward to the Dare. It excites . I am the type of person that loves to be challenged and being challenged in the word is very exciting. God is so present when I do bible studies and there are so many times I see that. Little things fall into place. You feel God presence. I am going through so many trial right know that I never dreamed I would be. This Dare is something I need to learn how to listen to Gods word and to Trust in him. I fear that I cant feel his peace. I know I have faith that everything will work out and his Plan is the best but I still feel very anxious and I dont want to disappoint God with that feeling and it seems like I dont have faith.