The everyday moments matter

23Jul

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 

 -Psalm 37:7

Do not despise these small beginnings,

for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. 

-Zechariah 4:10


Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with very much. 


-Luke 6:10


I have noticed a theme in my recent Instagram daily meditations that I really want to put into practice right now. Life seems to slow down a little bit in the summer, and in these slower moments, I begin to more deeply appreciate the meaning of these verses. Not every day should be a race to the finish line. It is a challenge to slow down and see God in the everyday moments, not just in the big moments when we feel like we need God most. “Don’t sweat the small stuff” is a saying that was ingrained in me as a child, however what if we made the small stuff matter? 


Psalm 37:7 was written later in King David’s reign when he had time to observe much strife and was giving advice to a younger generation. We can still pursue justice while simply waiting for the Lord. Waiting and being patient does not mean we are simply doing nothing as long as we have God’s justice as our goal. For me, this is hard to hear because when I run across a problem I go forward quickly to the solution. Slowing down and being patient might seem like nothing, but it can actually be a difficult feat! 


In Zechariah 4:10, the prophet Zechariah receives a message from the angels that even the tiniest of efforts are valued if done with sincerity. Every journey begins with a single step. I I believe that the Lord rejoices when we take a step toward serving Him. Every prayer, every moment spent reading the Lord’s Word, every act of kindness and every choice to trust the Lord matters. Every day we can make a choice to walk with the Lord and trust that the Lord is growing us exactly as He intends. 

Luke 16:10 explains that how we handle everyday matters is a direct indicator of our faith and how we will handle life in the long run. It’s the little things that matter most here- how we handle relationships and commitments and how we show our faith daily. Every day actions can build a lifetime of integrity. 


My hometown of Mobile, AL has undergone several tragic deaths this summer, one of whom was a high school friend who was an amazing mother, wife, daughter, sister and friend. Although I did not keep in touch with her and hadn’t seen her in quite some time, the thing that I remember most about her is that she was always smiling. Her smile gave so much light and made all around her feel happy and loved-a true indicator of her faith and lifetime of integrity. The world moves fast with everyone trying to accomplish as much as they can and build these long resumes-but isn’t it a beautiful showing of God’s grace to be remembered by your smile? 


The everyday moments matter. The big moments in our lives matter, too. But the small moments are what builds a lifetime of faith. The real test of our walk with Christ happens in the ordinary moments of life. It can happen just through a simple smile. 


Musical Reflection - Little Things with great Love - Madison Cunningham, The Porter's Gate


Dear Lord, give us the strength to slow down and be patient today and to live each moment with your love and kindness in our hearts. May we live out our faith today and become the hands and feet of Christ, bringing hope into a world that desperately needs it. Amen. 

Faith

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