Step By Step

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!

Surrounded With Patience

I had some very good English teachers when I was in Junior High and High School. They taught me to love language; to look for the familiar in unfamiliar places. So this morning while looking at the word patience I wasn’t surprised by what I found in the center of the word.

I – I am in the center of patient, three letters before and three letters after. The same holds true with the word impatience; five letters before and four letters after. No wonder “I” have trouble with patience sometimes, I want things centered around me.

Impatience is a fruit of selfishness! Think about that, it is something I heard Joyce Meyer say years ago and I haven’t forgotten it.

It’s true – “I” don’t have time to wait; “I” could do it better; “I” deserve to be treated better than this; “I” told you to do it “my” way. And it goes on and on. Most of our objections around things that make us impatient start with I.

How contrary that is to God’s character! He waited for just the right time to send Jesus. Jesus walked this earth teaching the same thing over and over, God’s love for us and His plan for our restoration. People didn’t get it. And now God is waiting again, He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

In John 13, we read the story of Jesus final Passover celebration with his disciples before His crucifixion. He takes the role of a servant and starts washing the disciples feet. Peter objects, he didn’t understand what Jesus was doing but Jesus doesn’t become impatient. He took time to explain His purpose to Peter and still he misunderstood…

“It was almost time for the Jewish Passover festival. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go back to the Father. Jesus had always loved the people in the world who were his. Now was the time he showed them his love the most.

2 Jesus and his followers were at the evening meal. The devil had already persuaded Judas Iscariot to hand Jesus over to his enemies. (Judas was the son of Simon.) 3 The Father had given Jesus power over everything. Jesus knew this. He also knew that he had come from God. And he knew that he was going back to God. 4 So while they were eating, Jesus stood up and took off his robe. He got a towel and wrapped it around his waist. 5 Then he poured water into a bowl and began to wash the followers’ feet. He dried their feet with the towel that was wrapped around his waist.

6 He came to Simon Peter. But Peter said to him, “Lord, you should not wash my feet.” 7 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what I am doing now. But later you will understand.” 8 Peter said, “No! You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “If I don’t wash your feet, you are not one of my people.” 9 Simon Peter said, “Lord, after you wash my feet, wash my hands and my head too!”

10 Jesus said, “After a person has a bath, his whole body is clean. He needs only to wash his feet. And you are clean, but not all of you.” 11 Jesus knew who would hand him over to his enemies. That is why he said, “Not all of you are clean.” John 13:1-11 ERV

Countless times the Lord has been patient with our failings, our shortcomings, our wanderings. He has been there to pick us up, welcome us home and encourage us to “go our way and sin no more”.

And now He is asking us to become patient with ourselves and with others, to show them the same love and compassion He has shown to us. When we are patient, we are Christ-like and our lives will reflect His love.

“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.” James 1:2-4 ERV

Remember, “I” am surrounded by patience. Patiently love those surround you today!