The Basics of the Course
Your whole-person health journey with your AP or AG will last 14 weeks. Not every group will travel the same path, so you and your accountability partner(s) get the chance to set some of the course details together. After you decide on this crucial part of your journey—identifying an AP or AG—the second decision is what day, time, and place you want to meet together for your weekly accountability time. It is during these meetings that you will bond in a beautiful way as you review the devotionals you digested during your personal time that week. You will also have the opportunity to exercise together, utilizing plans given in the second week. I wholeheartedly believe that girlfriends who pray and exercise together stay together!
Book Setup
This journey will point to the Armor of God in Ephesians 6 and will relate it to various areas of our health. There are seven sections to book. Each section contains two weeks. The first week in each section focuses on a piece of God’s armor. The second week in each section targets the complementary health component. Take the entire week to digest the material successfully. You will have the opportunity to meet with your accountability partner(s) at the each week. Since there are 14 weeks, you will meet 14 times. Do not meet until after have read Week 1.
Armor Alert
These sections are key encouragements and challenges that should not be skipped. Use intention. These Armor Alerts are what you will review with your AP/AG every week on your indicated meeting day.
Treasure Chest
This special section is located in the back of the book and contains exercise plans with progressions and modifications, charts, fit recipes, easy to follow meal plans, and more.
Physical Training Program
This health journey is not just about exercise; in fact, exercise is only about 20 percent of your overall health. You may already have access to a personal trainer, 20 exercise videos, a local gym membership, a rowing club, or indoor fitness equipment. Be a good steward of these healthy avenues and enjoy your community with others as much as possible. Week 2 will go through other options for exercise and modifications (a word that allows any fitness level to exercise).
The Armor of God
The below verses are the basis for the entire book.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the
whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against
powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of
wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
Therefore take up the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the
breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation
of the Gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will
be able to quench all the fiery darts of the one. And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; praying always
with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all
perseverance and supplication for all the saints— and for me, that utterance
may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the
mystery of the Gospel, for which an ambassador in chains; that in it I may
speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”— Ephesians 6:10-20
Identifying Accountability Partners
There are countless women dragging through life as they stand cornered with huge health battles—alone and afraid. They need you, and you need them. Having a strong and available support system is the key component to advance in battles, big or small.
This book is a journey and to be experienced together with someone else. Prayerfully consider who should accompany you for the next 14 weeks on your journey. God gave you special girlfriends to uphold, love, stand beside, be accountable to, and even with whom to walk through the craziness of this world. God knows women need to talk (some more than others), listen, cry, laugh, and love. He created us this way. However, there is truth that you connect better with some women than others. Ask God to help you decide if you are to run this race with just one woman or in a small group.
At times, this journey will ask difficult personal questions, some of which could take you to the Grand Canyon of your soul. health concerns could surface as conversations go deeper before climbing to mountain peaks. Let yourself in on this
secret: you do not have to keep any woman title. Be real, be honest, and be you. This will be a give-and-take journey. One week you may be the encourager and the next, the encouragee. This vital connect with God first and pray for
direction with whom to share these special moments. I have faith that you can find and connect with at least the billions of amazing women God created.
There are three degrees of accountability you can encounter on this journey:
- Accountability with God. Being accountable to God can look different to everyone.
Ask God:
** What being accountable to Him looks like for you personally.
** To give you daily time to pray.
** Questions, and wait for answers. - Accountability Partner (AP). AP attributes should have qualities attractive to you.
Who will be:
** Open with honest communication, available to pray with and for you.
** Accountable with you, without getting upset, trustworthy.
** Available at the frequency you need. - Accountability Group (AG). You may have the privilege of going through this book
in a small group with your AP. For example, if another set of APs meets with you and
your AP, this would create a small accountability group. Another option is to have three
in a small group if there is not a fourth AP. Note: Read the Accountability Group Details
