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3 Ways You Can Build a Better World for Your Children

Family walking in a field

If you could return to your childhood, what would you change about it? What would you keep the same? If “grown-up-you” could travel back in time and give advice to the people who raised you, what would you tell them?

Asking yourself questions like these can help you envision the life you want to make for your family. Here are three things you can start doing today that will help you draw closer to one another, and toward God.

Define your family values together.

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

GALATIANS 5:22-23

Talk together about which character traits your family wants to be known for. Then, also together, brainstorm practical ways you could make that happen. For example, if you want to be known for “Joy,” you might print several pictures of your family’s happiest moments together and place them in strategic places around your house. Point them out to each other often, constantly reminding one another of pleasant memories. Commit together to regularly add new memories (and pictures!) to your collection.

Make “enjoying each other’s company” a habit.

Memorize his laws and tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you’re at home or walking along the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning.

DEUTERONOMY 6:6-7

Work, school, chores, activities: sometimes it feels like our schedules are in charge, rather than the other way around. There are certain things we have to do, so be intentional about making the time you have together both fun and meaningful. Taking the littles to school? Turn your drive into kids’ worship sing-along time. Sitting with one kid in the stands while another is at practice? Share a snack and ask about their day. Whatever you’re doing, offer to pray for your kids, then teach them how to ask God to guide your family — by being the example. Don’t over-spiritualize; just enjoy each precious minute you have together…as it’s happening.

Be intentional in how you use technology.

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

PROVERBS 22:6

Do you catch yourself checking Instagram and Facebook several times a day? What if instead you showed your kids how to use technology to draw closer to God? Install the Bible App for Kids, then watch the stories together, and talk about them, together… rather than just handing off your phone. Find reading plans and devotionals in the Bible App that your family could do together, then choose “With Friends” and invite your spouse and kids to join.

Kids are a gift from God.

We all want to give our children every opportunity to reach their full potential. Your kids may not always do everything you tell them to. But, they will absolutely learn from the example you set for them in your everyday lives together. Create moments together that they’ll always cherish.

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Choose your friends wisely.

This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you. No one has greater love than to lay down his own life for his friends. - John 15: 12-13 - Verse Image

Community — a body of individuals who unite together in fellowship, sharing attitudes, interests, and goals.

Glance to your left, then to your right. Who’s standing beside you? Would you consider them friends? Is the time that you spend together making all of you better people? Or do things you do together sometimes lead you to regret?

Anyone who walks with wise people grows wise. But a companion of foolish people suffers harm.

PROVERBS 13:20

Relationships are like nutrition for your soul. Do the people closest to you make you healthier? Or do you binge on junk food together? You are directly influenced by the people you spend the most time with. Even if you feel like you’re different from them right now, in five years… you won’t be.

…that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

1 CORINTHIANS 12:25-27

God made us to need each other. We all have different gifts and strengths, different failings and weaknesses. When we join together, we can look out for one another, help each other, encourage one another, and even challenge each other to grow.

Here are 3 simple things you can do to start building your community:

Cross the Street

Do you know your neighbors? If you live on the same street, or even in the same building, you already have something in common. Don’t overthink this. Jesus loves your neighbor. Maybe you will too… and you just don’t know it yet.

Challenge: Start a conversation with a handshake and, “I’m sorry, we haven’t met before. My name is _____. What’s yours?” Even if you’re shy, you only have to be brave for 30 seconds.

Share an Experience

We all have things we need to talk about, challenges that would be helpful to process in conversation. And we all have something to offer, even if it’s just a sympathetic ear.

Challenge: Invite a friend to do something together: share a meal, tackle a backyard project, or just take a walk. Talk about whatever. Just be honest, and get real.

Invite Deeper Friendships

The Bible reminds us again and again that we need relationships with people we can trust: Close friends who will encourage you, inspire you, challenge you, love you, and pray for you. And they need you to do the same for them.

Challenge: Invite a friend (or 3) to join you in the Bible App, then do a Plan together.

Find Friends

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So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

GALATIANS 6:10

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Unlock all-new Badges!

Badges

“I want to draw closer to God, but…”

Some days, it can feel like all of life’s demands are conspiring together to consume you. But, seeking God in His Word has the power to bring positive change into your life. How do you find that daily rhythm? By setting small, achievable goals… and taking them on one by one.

Announcing
All-New Badges

Did a particular Bible verse really speak to your heart? Highlight it, and you’ll unlock the Highlight Badge. Keep highlighting, and you’ll “level up” each time you reach the next milestone. Try the same thing with Bookmarks, and unlock and level up your Bookmark Badge!

Badges

Motivate yourself.

Complete one of our annual challenges (like the Christmas Challenge), and you’ll earn a Badge. Subscribe to a Bible Plan, and you’ll unlock the Plan Subscription Badge. Finish that Plan, and you’ll unlock the Plan Completion Badge. Keep starting and finishing Plans, and you’ll level up both.

Badges in Profile

Build momentum.

Your home feed shows your progress on Badges. Go to your profile to see all the Badges you’ve unlocked so far… and which other Badges are available. Once you’ve encouraged yourself with some of the smaller Badges, maybe you’ll feel inspired to chase the Whole Bible Badge.

Badges in Community Feed

And inspire others.

Your friends will see your Badges in their feeds, or you can share your journey and invite them to join you, on social media or by text. And, when you see your friends’ Badge progress in your feed, you can like or comment to encourage them.

Now let’s get you started:

Update Now

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How to Make a Difference in Your Community

People running on a beach

You interact with people every day: on the way to work, at the supermarket, the gym, your workplace, school; even on the phone. Every person you meet is facing their own struggles and setbacks… just like you are. And everyone you meet is passionately loved by God… just like you.

Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good.… take delight in honoring each other.

ROMANS 12:9, 10b

A few quick Google searches suggest that we live in a world that’s hurting from violence, hatred, anxiety, and brokenness. But, what if we started a ripple that could begin changing that? What if your commitment to live peacefully with others could start a chain reaction?

If someone has done you wrong, do not repay him with a wrong. Try to do what everyone considers to be good. Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody.

ROMANS 12:17-18

Here are 3 practical ways you can live at peace within your community, today and every day:

  1. Pray for others. Jesus commands us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. In fact, He modeled what this looks like by asking God to forgive His persecutors when He died on the cross. Praying for those who have wronged you causes your heart to change — it’s harder to hate someone when you’re asking God to bless them.

    Reflection Questions: Who in my life do I need to forgive? What do I need to forgive them for, and how can I ask God to bless them?

  2. Get to know your neighbors. It’s never been easier to shut off from the world and forget the problems other people are facing. That’s why it’s never been more important to love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.
    What are they passionate about? What are they struggling with? When you invest in the lives of others, you’ll find a deeper understanding of God’s love for the people He’s placed around you.

    Reflection Question: Which of my neighbors needs an extra dose of love today?

  3. Actively pursue unity. This might look like advocating on behalf of the vulnerable around you. It might look like patching up a rift between friends, or helping someone who can’t speak up for themselves. Whatever God calls you to do, He’ll equip you to do it. He has placed you where you are so that you can share His love and draw others close to Him.

    Reflection Question: What need in the world is bothering me right now? How might God be calling me to meet that need?

As you reflect on how you can be a generator of peace, get your community involved by sharing a Verse Image on social media and continuing the conversation.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. - John 14:27 - Verse Image

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For more ideas about how you can live in unity with others, explore Plans on the Bible App.

Explore Plans on Peace

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5 Ways to Start a Habit

Don't copy the behavior and custos of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Romans 12:2 - Verse Image

How to Start (and Keep) Good Habits

Imagine it’s late and you’ve had a long day. You were planning to exercise, fix yourself a healthy meal, then spend some time in God’s Word. Instead, you grab some pizza and binge TV shows.

Without realizing it, you just reinforced a habit.

Research suggests we all have “keystone habits,”† acquired patterns of behavior that form the basis of our daily routines. Change those, and you can change your life.

Here are 5 Ways to Develop Healthy Habits:

  1. Remember whose you are. You are called by God and made in His image. Because of His great love for you, you have the ability to become more like the person God created you to be.

    7 Habits To Develop Spiritual Growth

    7 Habits To Develop Spiritual Growth
    Jesus.net, 7 Days

  2. Identify the “why” behind your behavior.† Do you eat junk food because you like the taste? Or because you’re tired or bored? Once you know why you behave the way you do, it’s easier to replace unhealthy habits with better ones.

    Habits

    Habits
    Life.Church, 6 Days

  3. Draw close to God. When you prioritize time with God, you’re allowing Him to renew your mind (Rom. 12:2). Eventually, this will help you change the way you live.

    Lifehacks: Practical Tips For Godly Habits

    Lifehacks: Practical Tips For Godly Habits
    Zondervan, 7 Days

  4. Focus on one key habit. Consistently doing one thing well will yield results over time and make it easier to master other habits later.

    10 Habits Of Intimacy With God

    10 Habits Of Intimacy With God
    Dr. Roselene Coblentz, 10 Days

  5. Give yourself grace. You won’t always get it right… And that’s okay. When you stumble, “fall forward”: learn from your mistakes and keep going. God will still be right beside you, cheering you on.

It only takes a moment to start a healthy habit. Pick a Plan, and let God use that choice to begin transforming your daily routines.

Start a Plan

† The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business