December 29, 2011
"...make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance..." 2 Peter 1:5a-6a (NIV)
No matter what your struggle has been, no matter what it looks like at this very moment,victory is possible today. Sadly, most of us don't think that's true. The problem is we tend to measure long term success while downplaying the absolute victory found in small successes.
Yesterday I got a positive response out of negative person and a negative situation. It didn't matter why they did it the success was in they did it. That's a victorious small success. Now, I can't say that we are as close as we use to be or that the elephant is not still in the room but he has moved closer to the door. But, if I build upon this small success - choice by choice, day by day - I will see positive changes.
As the New Year approaches, many of us make some kind of healthy eating commitment. But even if that's not your resolution, this principle applies to other struggles as well. This year I have resolved not to make resolutions but to make actual changes, things that can be done one step at a time and I know that each thing concurred each victory won will make all the difference in motivating me to keep working.
If I choose not to snap at my child and instead respond with tenderness, that's a victorious small success.
If I choose to pause before responding to the rude sales clerk, thus giving her a smile instead of perpetuating her smirk, that's a victorious small success.
If I choose to give my husband the benefit of the doubt rather than jumping to the conclusion he meant to hurt my feelings, that's a victorious small success.
I like the way our key verse puts it. In 2 Peter 1:5-6, we are reminded to "add" some things to our faith. Two of those additions are self-control and perseverance. For me, I have to decide to practice the self-control and perseverance that is mine since God's Spirit lives in me.
Think of it like a muscle. We have muscles as a part of our body. But we must add activity to those muscles to make them effective and strong. Our muscles will work for us if we exercise them. Self-control and perseverance will work for us as we practice these over and over. Start with the small victories and bigger victories will come.
Sometimes victory seems so far away because we measure it by the end goal. And end goals can seem overwhelmingly huge, daunting and just plain hard to reach. Instead, if we start measuring our victories by the smaller choices we make each day, victory won't seem so impossible. Big things are built one brick at a time.
Victories are achieved one choice at a time. A life well lived is chosen one day at a time. Because you allow the Holy Spirit to be your personal trainer in this exercise, you can stay motivated, you can celebrate at each success no matter how small in the end. It will be worth everything and I know the end result of trainer Name Jesus is awesome.
Dear Lord, I know that with You, victory is indeed possible. Day by day and choice by choice. Help me to believe this truth today. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
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