What Happened in 21 Days?
In November of 2023, I felt a strong call to launch a 21-Day Virtue Challenge. I reached out to a group of women, knowing most of them already had several Advent devotions and would likely not want to add another spiritual practice to their days leading up to Christmas. I told myself I’d be happy if just five or six joined.
Much to my surprise, by the time the challenge began (the day after Black Friday), 28 women, most of whom had a TON going on in their life, had signed up, committing themselves to growing in virtue every day amidst other Advent devotions, work, family life, and of course Christmas shopping and preparations.
We kicked off with a Zoom call where I shared the heart behind the challenge and invited each woman to reflect on her own “why”—and to consider that God had a “why” for her too. If He brought us together, He must have had something in store. While many in the world were searching for Cyber Monday deals, we were searching for the grace to practice our first virtue, acceptance.
The challenge included weekday email reflections, journaling, Scripture, and quiet time with God. For some, this was familiar. For others, it was a new and difficult discipline—especially during such a busy season.
Throughout the 21 days, women replied to the emails with beautiful insights. Many joined weekend Zoom calls for group reflection. Hearing how each woman was being stretched and blessed by the virtues we explored was life-giving.
Our final reflection—on Wisdom—landed on Christmas Day. I reminded the women that whether they followed every step or missed several days, it was okay. We were learning to be gentle with ourselves—not just in our schedules, but in our pursuit of virtue. We shared honestly about where we struggled and where we saw growth. There was hope in every voice: if we had even a mustard seed of a virtue, there was room to grow—and we know what God can do with a mustard seed (Matthew 17:20).
We ended with a potluck breakfast, finally meeting face-to-face after weeks of connecting over Zoom. Despite the digital format, we had truly connected—not just through the internet, but to each other and to God.
So… what was next?
While this was the end of our program, Day 21 was just the beginning of our mission to daily grow in virtue. We were encouraged to continue walking with Wisdom, asking each day:
“Lord, how can I grow in virtue today?”
What Happened Next…
In 2025, I felt the Holy Spirit prompting me to expand the journey. I added 10 more virtues and launched the first Just Keep Growing program—an at-home retreat experience with the same format: one virtue a day, weekday reflections, and weekend group sharing. The response was just as beautiful and Spirit-filled as the original challenge.
And—by God’s grace—I also published a journal to accompany the journey!
If this speaks to your heart, I’d love to invite you to:
Join my mailing list to be notified when Just Keep Growing is offered again. It typically runs during Advent and Lent—the weeks leading up to Christmas and Easter, when Christians prepare spiritually for Jesus’ birth and Resurrection.
Purchase the journal and begin the journey at home, either on your own or with a group. It includes guidance for both!
Let’s keep growing—together.