Start Little

by Andrew Cromwell

The New Year is upon us.  Tis the season of life resolutions, gift returns and personal reflection.  Every year we collectively decide to join the gym, get back in church and work a little harder.  And that is as it should be, a new year is a wonderful time for a new start.

But a new year can also be a bit overwhelming.  If we are not careful, we start to focus on last year’s failures and all our unfulfilled resolutions.  We become jaded and stop believing that next year can be different.  But it does not have to be so.

Last week I was reflecting on the New Year and I wrote the following:

 Don’t be satisfied with yesterday’s success.
 Don’t be discouraged by today’s failures.
 Don’t be overwhelmed by tomorrow’s challenges.
 Instead, remember that growth happens little by little.

It has been said that we overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a year.  It is not that our new year’s resolutions are too big, rather that our will to whittle away at the goals is too small.  More often then not, we get overwhelmed, even before we begin, and quit.

Remember, new beginnings don’t need to be grandiose, they just need to begin.  Zechariah 4:10 says, “do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin…” The key to having a wonderful 2013, is to recognize that growth in our life usually happens little by little and to just begin!

I’m reminded of an old phrase that says, “Little is much when God is in it.”  God doesn’t need much, He just needs something to work with.  I am resolving to give Him something to work with in this New Year.  I’m starting small, but I’m starting.

What are you giving Him to work with in 2013?  What new beginning will you start?  Perhaps you need to get back in church?  Maybe you need to rekindle your love for your spouse? Or maybe you need to start chipping away at those educational goals?  Whatever it is, just remember to get started!

So as we enter the New Year, let me remind you that God wants to meet you in a new way in 2013.  He has good things in store for you and wants to release new blessing in your life.  The key is to get moving in the right direction!