Many years ago when we were just starting out in church planting God spoke a word to me that I have never forgotten. At the time we were hiring a school music room for Sunday gatherings and undertaking the laborious task each week of setup/pack up. I remember one particular Sunday only one person arrived for the service apart from our planting team. It was a public holiday weekend and people were making the most of the opportunity to go away or have family get togethers. So here we were with a big dream in our hearts and one person to show for all our efforts…and that’s when God spoke and said, “don’t despise the day of small beginnings”.
I was busy wondering what on earth we were doing with our life when all we had to show for our effort and sacrifice was one person, but that mattered not to God. We had begun on the dream God had placed in our hearts, and God was with us. Through those small beginnings God taught me over and over the value of one person, and how much we individually matter to Him. Those small beginnings changed my worldview, my perceptions of God and His love, and how special and important each person is to Him. I discovered that if God, creator of the universe rejoiced in my small beginnings, and my “one’s” then so should I.
Whatever the dream or desire in our hearts we all have to begin somewhere, or it simply only remains a dream. Small beginnings often come with setbacks, sacrifice and little encouragement for our efforts. But God watches, He knows, and when we choose to be faithful with the little we have, He says He will then trust us with much. (Luke 16:10)
What dream or desire do you have in your heart? What do you believe God has called you to do? Even if you feel like you are in the day of small beginnings, don’t despise it because God is with you, and He is rejoicing to see that the work has begun. He promises that He has prepared in advance good things for us to walk in; that He will perfect that which concerns us, and be faithful to complete the work He has started in each one of us.
Don’t despise the day of small beginnings – just begin and keep going, knowing that the whole of heaven is cheering you on. (Hebrews 12:1)
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” (Zechariah 4:10)
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)
“The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.” (Psalm 138:8)
Prayer: Lord help me not to despise the day of small beginnings; whether that be a new venture, further studies, the stepping out in faith to fulfil a dream in my heart, or making small changes in my life to become all that you have made me to be. Please help me to remember and see that you rejoice and see value in my small beginnings, and the steps I take to begin. In Jesus Name Amen.
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