Today our eldest son Ben had a big win in being picked for the Prem squad of his football team. It's the reward for his hard work and consistency and on top of being picked for the team, he also kicked a goal. But I think Ben had been winning long before today because every time he achieved a goal or overcame a knock back he essentially had a win.
There is a saying that “success is a series of small wins”. However, when we are busy working to achieve and reach our goals we can overlook and underestimate a powerful source of daily happiness and joy in our lives. This source is to be found in celebrating our accomplishments no matter how small, because those small wins help us keep going and generate an attitude of thankfulness.
There is however a temptation in many of us to constantly be driven forward and always be focused on “what’s next”. We can negate the importance and energy generated by taking the time to properly celebrate our progress.
Wins like getting up to exercise and eating healthy today. Wins such as tackling and making progress on a difficult project, trying something new, or pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone. Wins like facing and overcoming a fear or negative habit and spending regular quality time with God. Wins like stepping out to share our faith or to pray for someone, building into our relationships and taking the time to do the things we love.
God is also totally into celebration as is documented all through the bible. For example the shepherds, wise men, and angels celebrated the birth of Jesus with gifts, songs, and prayer. God gave Israel many directives to mark their calendar with celebrations such as the Feast of Booths, year of Jubilee, communion and baptism.
Jesus said that He came to give us joyful, overflowing life (John 10:10). He actually expects us to celebrate at every opportunity – both in our relationship with Him and also in every win we experience in our daily life. It was never God’s plan for us to live dull boring, lives, and Jesus’ example shows that. He was even criticised for partying too much by the religious people of the time.
Today give yourself permission to celebrate your wins. Document when and where you have accomplished something this week or month, remembering it’s the small wins we can easily forget about in the daily routine. Keep track and then reward and treat yourself in some way. Pause, thank God, and savour your achievements, understanding that these wins are the very things that fuel our progress, add to our sense of happiness and give us the motivation to keep going.
“At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.” (Nehemiah 12:27)
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)
Jesus said, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
Prayer: Lord please help me recognise and celebrate even the small wins in my life. That I would be able to see the progress and steps I am making to become all that you made me to be and to recognise your hand upon my life. In Jesus name Amen.
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