Do you get frustrated by small victories? Most of us would like to lose ten pounds at a time, reduce our waist line in inches not by the half inch and be able to run a 5K without being winded on the first day out.
Next to that we would like to see our savings account grow by thousands and not just by ten or twenty dollars. When I was younger I wanted to sit down and play a simple concerto before I knew the scales or where Middle C was on the keyboard.
We see others win the trophies, get the promotion, drive the nicer car or live in the bigger house and feel we deserve one too but without the effort and dedication that “they” put forth.
Little by little. Step by Step. That’s how success and mastery come.
Most of us like to see big, flamboyant results! Great strides of success and not the little daily victories but that’s not how it happens. I was reminded of that while I was reading about the Israelites and what God told them about going into the “Promised Land”. They had already seen some “big” miracles and now the Lord was also revealing Himself to them in their daily living, step by step.
“Worship only me, the Lord your God! I will bless you with plenty of food and water and keep you strong. 26 Your women will give birth to healthy children, and everyone will live a long life. 27 I will terrify those nations and make your enemies so confused that they will run from you. 28 I will make the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites panic as you approach. 29 But I won’t do all this in the first year, because the land would become poor, and wild animals would be everywhere. 30 Instead, I will force out your enemies little by little and give your nation time to grow strong enough to take over the land.” Exodus 23:24-29 CEV
The Lord promised to bless them during their daily living, blessings; plenty of good food and water; healthy wives and children; long life and victory over their enemies!
But the victories would come little by little. If they had completely defeated all the enemies in their new land immediately the Lord said the land would have been overrun by wild animals and the land would have been poorly used. They needed time to grow into what God was bringing them too.
We all need time to grow into what God is bringing to us. We would love to have all our enemies defeated and battles over immediately but it doesn’t happen that way. We grow in what God is calling us to do. If we excelled too quickly we would have to fight the wild beasts of pride or boasting, claiming personal glory for what the Lord had done for us.
Each day is a time of growth, each day has miracles of provision and purpose. Each day we need to recognize what the Lord is doing in our lives and through our lives and be grateful. Each day we need to remind ourselves of His abundant blessings – what did the Lord do for us yesterday?
Stop and think – can’t see anything big or noteworthy? Then realize what He kept you from; illness, accident, ruin, attack, and be grateful for the unseen blessings. Each day, little by little, step by step He is growing you stronger and stronger and giving you a land that flows with milk and honey!
