This week I want to share a short devotion that spoke to me this past week. It is part of a book that my husband and I read each morning together, titled The Word For You Today.
If you know me at all, you know I prefer things to happen sooner than later, without having to exert much patience in getting to the end result. After all, I am short on that “fruit of the spirit”, listed in Galatians chapter five. “ But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5: 22-23
Celebrate Your Progress
Lasting change doesn’t come through human effort, frustration, self-hatred, guilt or beating yourself up over your failures. It comes from having your mind renewed daily by the Word of God. If you’re a consistent Bible reader, you’ll grow spiritually. As you agree with God and believe what He says in His Word, you gradually begin to change. It just happens.
You start to think differently, talk differently, and act differently. But you must be patient because it is a process that develops in stages. And you must learn to enjoy life while you’re going through the transformation process. Many of us look like we are walking a tightrope rather than a pathway of peace.
No, enjoy where you are on your way to where you’re going! Don’t waste all your “now time” trying to rush into the future. Jesus said that tomorrow will have challenges of its own.
( Matthew 6:34 “ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” )
Perhaps you are thinking, “If only I didn’t have this problem, I’d be happy.” What are you wrestling with? An out-of-control appetite? Resentment? Fearfulness? Maybe you’re saying, “If I could get this habit under control I’d be fine.” Just like Israel conquered the Promised Land one city at a time, you conquer your weaknesses one day at a time.
Paul said, “So that I might finish my course with joy” (Acts 20:24) Paul wanted to be all God called him to be – but he wanted to enjoy the process. So instead of getting discouraged about how far you still have to go, learn to celebrate your progress along the way.
May I encourage you to start a journal? As you write down things that encourage you along the daily journey or things that you are especially thankful for, it will be easier for you to celebrate positive changes that occur. It is a joy to look back and see where you have come from, and to see progress that you didn’t even realize was happening.
Happy November!
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