Start Small

This word has been bubbling up in my spirit for a few weeks now. I believe that many of us would wish ourselves to be in a different place or position than we currently find ourselves in if we're being completely honest.

If you look at your life, truly look at it, is there something you wish was different? Is there anything that you would change if you could? The Lord says to you, "Start small, start today."

Years ago when I first surrendered to Jesus I stumbled on a book that slowly but surely changed my life. It was "The Power Of The Praying Woman" by Stormie Omartian. That one book had me speaking prayers over my life every day of the month, and I was faithful to pray those for years. Simple prayers changed my life completely.  

That one book taught me how to pray, how to be perseverant in prayer even when the enemy comes at me, and how to hear and commune with the Lord. It was life-changing! It's why I am here today, living in my answered prayers with many more yet to be answered. But I know and I believe they will be.  

One of my favorite quotes on prayer is by George Mueller. When asked if he had any unanswered prayers, confidently replied, "No. That is except for one. But it will be. How can it be any other way? I am still praying."  

But the point is, I started small. I started by reading someone else's book about their prayer life and journey, and I faithfully prayed the prayers every day for years. Now, I pray radical prayers and believe in a radical God who answers those prayers! I believe that when I pray for healing, healing comes. I believe when I pray for miracles, miracles happen. I believe when I pray, God hears me and answers me. All because I started small, by praying simple prayers every day.

It could be that you want to hear the voice of the Lord better, or be more disciplined, or to write a book, or start a business, or to have God make a miracle happen in your life today. What is it?  

Whatever that big dream is, whatever your vision is, start today by taking small steps toward that goal. I was in the Word one day when the Lord pressed on my heart, "small changes today make big future impacts. Start small. Start today."

Martin Luther made incredible kingdom impacts on earth. He used to say, “I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” The most effective Christians would spend 2-3 hours daily devoted to prayer. And even today, missionaries, pastors and leaders I admire the most say that they spend at least 2 hours in prayer every morning. But I imagine they didn’t start out immediately able to do that! They started small, they started where they were, and the Lord grew their endurance to pray more.

That's the key, building endurance. And endurance doesn't happen overnight, it happens over multiple days, many weeks, and even persevering through months of devoting time and effort into reaching your dream.

"We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy,"

Colossians 1:11

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Romans 5:3-5

I pray today that you experience that special kind of perseverance through every temptation and trial that you face. That special kind of perseverance that is given by the Holy Spirit which produces in us patience, hope, peace, joy and strength. Whatever it is that God has placed on your heart to work toward, start small today, and don't give up when you see little improvement. It's the daily choices that grow over time into big impacts later down the road.  

So, take 15 minutes today and work toward your goal. Wake up tomorrow and devote another 15 minutes toward your dream. Next month, increase your goal to 20 minutes. And keep increasing your time in prayer, in reading the Word, in writing a book, in working out, in whatever it is that God has placed in your heart to change.

A year from now you'll be amazed at just how much you've grown. A year from now you'll have the endurance and ability to see how a small daily goal changed your future completely.