The Best Part

Dreams and Goals

What’s a dream you have? What is one thing you have always wanted to accomplish or see happen in your life? Imagine it and say it out loud. Now get out a piece of paper and begin to write down small ways you can move in that direction. Before you know it, that impossible mountain will be scaled.

I discovered this with habits or new things I had to try that were daunting to me. A personal example would be, a new supplement I wanted to take for my health but didn’t know how I would react. I started with a small amount, and then as I got used to that, I increased the amount until one day I took the amount prescribed. Sometimes it felt like it was so miniscule that it was pointless but I had noticed something. I noticed that even those times where I took the tiniest amount, it actually began a positive change in my body, even if I never got to the full dose. It still changed my life for the better compared to when I hadn’t done it at all.

Small Beginnings and Growth

There is even a story in the Bible where a temple is being built and it says, “Who [with reason] despises the day of small things (beginnings)”(Amplified Bible, 2015, Zech. 4:10)?¹ This same concept can be applied to just about anything, especially if it’s something we know is what God asked us to do or is in alignment with Him. I realized changing something by just a few degrees can actually change the whole trajectory of it. So, it can be with taking small steps towards goals and change in general. Slow and steady does win the race. It’s about consistency and perseverance. I noticed God is good about meeting us right where we are and is so gracious to take what effort we can put forth and make it grow exponentially in the results. Just moving in the right direction is a huge accomplishment to Him. He is proud of you for even starting and will give you the grace to see it through, a lot of the times He makes it easier than had you stayed stationary.

I saw this with doing daily devotionals. I used to struggle with this so badly. I enjoyed spending time with Jesus once I got in the flow but to quiet myself in order to start was, at times, like pulling teeth. I decided when I would eat my breakfast, I would just pull up a 5 minutes devotional and then maybe read a chapter in the Bible while journaling anything that I felt He was speaking. This led to me eventually finding sermons online that I would listen to for 10 minutes instead of the devotionals while continuing the journaling and Bible reading. I didn’t always follow a structure but that outline was what got me started. I realized something in that process too. I realized, He loves it when I take 10 minutes or even 5 minutes to just sit and wait on Him. I usually ask if there is anything He wants to share. Sometimes I will worship Him or imagine Him sitting with me, anything to focus on Him. It truly can be so life changing, but many times in a subtle yet profound way. Sort of like the Bible story about Elijah, where He heard God in the form of a gentle whisper rather than the wind, earthquake or fire that preceded it (New International Version, 2011, 1 Kings 19:11-13).²

I have found you will know it’s Him if it makes you feel freedom, peace, faith, hope, joy, etc. Above all, it will line up with His word and what the Bible says about His character. If it’s condemnation or a half-truth (the enemy used that tactic to try and tempt Jesus in the dessert), it’s not Him. Truly, one small image or word from Him can change the whole trajectory of your day, and yes, also your life; one degree at a time until you look more and more like Him. Even just being with Him, it feels so good.

Ultimately putting God first like this at the start of my day has led to me feeling so much better each day. I will admit, there were other activities I used to look more forward to but they honestly didn’t satisfy; I would feel empty and depressed by the end of the day. However, when I put Him first, those things were more enjoyable because they were just the cherry on top. It’s sort of like eating food. If I eat dessert all the time but don’t get a good meal in, then it leaves me empty and unsatisfied even if it’s fun in the immediate. It’s not healthy in the long run, which leads to regret. However, if you eat a good meal and then have dessert, the dessert is so much more enjoyable. This is because you already had the best part. In fact, you could be satisfied even without dessert and may not even crave it anymore.

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (New King James Version, 1982, John 6:35).³

Relationship and Fruit that Remains

Lastly, I noticed as I spent time with Jesus consistently, not only did my thoughts, my speech, my day etc. become more positive, but I also began to hear His voice more clearly and good things increasingly happened to me. I have grown to truly look forward to my time with Him. When you put Him first you wish you would have done it sooner because He truly is as the Bible describes “the best part.”

“…but one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the best part; it will not be taken away from her” (NET Bible, 1996, Luke 10:42).⁴

He just wants to be close to you and bless you as you come to Him. Also, as you abide in Him and He in you, you will bring forth much fruit, it’s just natural (New International Version, 2011, John 15:5).² You will notice more peace and the ability to be patient, to love better, to get heavenly solutions, etc.; because when you nourish your relationship with Him, the garden of your heart will indeed flourish, and as a result every other part of you will also be positively affected.

If you mess up in pursuing your goals or in pursuing a deeper relationship with God, give yourself grace. He already does that, so you should too. There will most likely be days you just don’t do as well on as others. However, that’s okay; it’s part of progress and growth which from experience isn’t always linear; instead, it goes up and down. Perfection isn’t the goal, progress is; and yes, failure is still progress because at least you were trying. Furthermore, remember, where you are weak He is strong, and in fact your weakness is the perfect doorway to His strength.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.‘ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (New International Version, 2011, 2 Cor. 12:9-10).²

Closing Thoughts

I hope this encouraged you to take that small even seemingly insignificant step towards whatever it is you are dreaming or desiring to accomplish. But I also hope this encourages you that true success and satisfaction starts in the secret place, developing that friendship with God. He truly satisfies like nothing else can, and on top of that He loves to bless you above and beyond what you could have asked, hoped, or imagined.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (New King James Version, 1982, Matt. 6:33).³

Blessings!

Ariana 😊

References:

Amplified Bible. (2015). The Lockman Foundation, https://www.blueletterbible.org/amp/zec/4/10/s_915010

NET Bible. (1996). Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C, https://www.blueletterbible.org/net/luk/10/42/s_983042

New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/2co/12/9-10/s_1090009

New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/1ki/19/1/s_310001

New International Version Bible. (2011). Biblica, Inc. https://www.blueletterbible.org/niv/jhn/15/5/s_1012005

New King James Version Bible. (1982). Thomas Nelson, Inc. https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/mat/6/33/s_935033

New King James Version Bible. (1982). Thomas Nelson, Inc. https://www.blueletterbible.org/nkjv/jhn/6/35/s_1003035

Footnotes:

[2] All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

Dreams and Goals

Small Beginnings and Growth

Relationship and Fruit that Remains

Closing Thoughts

References:

Footnotes:

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Closing Thoughts

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