Day 185: Small Beginnings

Zechariah 4:10

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my life is to appreciate the small steps and the humble beginnings. I’m a dreamer, I grew up with my parents always telling me to dream and think big, but also being reminded that I will have to start small, I will have to struggle a bit before I get to where I want to go. There’s some hard work and I have to get my hands dirty. But that never meant that I had to stop dreaming big, it meant that I had to go through a process.

I think what God is telling us here is exactly that, but also He’s telling us to start, even if it’s a small start just do it and watch what He does. One of the things that always gets lost in the shadows of success stories is the beginning, how people weren’t always successful. When people tell the stories themselves then you get the truth. I’m interested in people’s stories, I’m interested in where they came from and where God has brought them. We all had to and have to start somewhere. Just like when they went to build the second temple in the book of Zechariah which would be smaller than the former temple. It doesn’t matter how small the beginning is just start and let God finish, start and trust God. Whatever God has called you to, start it.

What I’m getting at here is, we all have a calling and we all have a dream. For many of us that dream is our calling. However God has put a vision in each and every one of us, He has given us a passion for something. For me that’s acting, for you it might be different. But whatever it may be, do it. Start it, you’re going to have to start small before you can go big. But don’t let that stop you, Start somewhere, I think that’s what God is looking for us to do, just start. Even if you don’t know how it’s all going to pan out, trust that God will guide your footsteps because He will. Appreciate the baby steps because one day those strides will get wider and steeper, we just have to keep walking.

Reflection

1. What have you been called to do? What is your dream?
2. Have you started?
3. If the answer to your above question is no, what’s stopping you?

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide your prayer. Talk to God about where to start. Just have a conversation with Him.

I love you, and I hope you have an amazing day, be sure to share this with someone and and come back tomorrow for day 186!

Day 54: An Endless Hope

Hope- To trust in, wait for, look for, or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future. (biblical definition)

In Scripture, according to the Hebrew and Greek words translated by the word “hope” and according to the biblical usage, hope is an indication of certainty (the quality of being reliably true). “Hope” in Scripture means “a strong and confident expectation.” Though archaic today in modern terms, hope is akin to trust and a confident expectation.

Hebrews 11:1

For faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. (Hebrews 11:1 NLT)

Psalms 147:11

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.

Psalms 3:4

I call out to the Lord and He answers me from His holy mountain.

Many times we say that we have hope in Lord without understanding the true meaning of it. When we put our hope in God it is automatically paired with faith, we are relying on the faithfulness of God. We hope in God because we have confidence in who He is and we wholeheartedly believe in His word. We know that God will always be there; we are certain of His presence. Putting our hope and faith in the Lord is encouraging because  we look to our heavenly father for answers. We turn to Him because we know of His faithfulness. . We desire Him, and His magnificent love. We hope in a Lord that provides us with unfailing love, and everlasting life. We want to live in His presence because we know that there is no greater place to be than in the hands of God. Putting our hope in God is better than wishing upon a star, and even though it seems as if we are taking a shot in the dark, it is quote the opposite. We know that God will be there for us, even when we can’t see or feel Him and we stand firm on HIs word and wait for Him. Because His timing is perfect.

Faith means that we believe, hope means we are in expectation of what we are believing for. We have so much faith in God that we don’t just ask but we expect Him to come through, we expect Him to answer our prayers.  We know that He will always answer, and I don’t foresee that changing in the future. Faith is the body of our hope. We put our hope in someone and something that is unfailing. God’s love never fails, His words never returns to Him void. If we are going to rely on anyone or anything, it should be God and His precious word.

We are going to go through times in our life when the only hope we have left is in God. Where God is the only person in our life who hasn’t let us down. At some point in our life we will realize that the only thing we can do is put our hope in the Lord. These are the moments God delights in. Out of everything we’re going through we will not be shaken because we know of God’s unfailing love, and faithfulness we’ve experienced it. We have confidence in our faithful Father. We know that all we have to do is call out to the Lord in faith and expect Him to move. He might not move right then and there but God hears us calling we can find comfort in that. We will find comfort in knowing that God will somehow someway work this out. Sometimes we don’t even know how He’s going to do it, we just stand waiting with expectation and confidence that He will.

God’s word is unfailing, and His love is endless. Due to this truth, I will forever put my hope in Him. Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. (Psalms 62:5)

Reflection

1. Write down the things that you are expecting from God.
2. Is all of your hope in God, or is it in man?
3. Do you find comfort in knowing that you serve an unfailing God, whose love is eternal and endless?
   
   

Prayer Time

Take the time to talk to God about what it means to put all of our hope in Him. Allow your ansers to the above questions guide your prayer today. Rest in His love knowing that you can hope in His unfailing love. Just talk to Him, remember that prayer is just a conversation with God.

I love you, and I hope you have an amazing day or evening. I love you so much. Make sure you come back tomorrow for day 55!