Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work to see the work begin... (Zech. 4:10 NLT)
You may be familiar with the phrase, "I'll start on Monday." I've heard it countless times as a personal trainer, and I've even said twice as many times along my personal fitness journey. The statement is built on good intentions for the future, but it also begs the question: Why not start today? We often find that 'Monday' never comes and our goals slip further and further away. Why do we do this to ourselves? To be honest, I do it because I know that my goals require a lot of discipline and accountability (where's the fun in that??). Sometimes, it's the fear of failure and having to start the process all over again. But, then I have to remind myself that the sacrifice doesn't compare to what I will gain.
The passage above reminds us that God celebrates every time we choose to begin. It says nothing about finishing. Our job is to begin the work and He will empower us to complete it. Even if you have to begin several times along the way, your starting point will always be better than the last one. So what am I saying?
Whatever you aspire to "conquer" in life -- better health, financial growth, new business endeavor, parenting, adulting, etc.-- it will never go anywhere until you decide to begin the work. Write down your goals, find or create a visual that will keep you motivated (e.g. vision board), and map out the small steps that will lead you to the Finish Line. Even if you start off small, just start. Celebrate the start and use that momentum to propel you toward success one day at a time.
Thank you for the encouragement!
Great post and reminder!