“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” ~Zechariah 4:10 (NLT)
God tells us to not despise small beginnings. Every morning is a small beginning. Every morning is when work begins. Every morning we are setting plumb lines to build the day…minute by minute. The term "carpe diem” is Latin for “seize the day”. It is taken from the Roman poet Horace’s work “Odes” in 23 BC. A more literal translation for carpe diem is “pluck the day [as it is ripe]”. Some people see this phrase as an incitement to enjoy their work. Others see it as an inspiration to accomplish all they can. And even others see it as a directive to endure through the tasks and procedures every day holds. The truth is, our endeavor should be combining all three of these perspectives: enjoying our work, working to our fullest potential, and staying on task every single minute of the day. This is much easier to do when we get a firm understanding that victory isn’t accomplished at the finish line. Victory is accomplished every minute. We can be victorious, or we can be defeated in each and every minute and that victory or defeat can lead into the next minute and the next and the next. Distractions and a poor thought life can defeat us. A lack of sleep and a poor diet can defeat us. Habits and hang ups can defeat us. That is why we have to stay in step with the Holy Spirit every minute of every day to make each minute victorious. It is the only way to live each day to its fullest potential. Do you seek God early so that He can help you establish your plans? If not, you might just be living below your God given abilities. You might not be walking in your preordained destiny.
The bible teaches us that God sees the end from the beginning. We might not have the foresight to see what is on the horizon for the day. We might not know what our finished work is going to look like when the sun sets, but we can have confidence that it will be productive and blessed if we are being led by the Lord every step of the way. God promises us in Deuteronomy 16:15 “For the Lord your God will bless you in all your harvest and in all the work of your hands, and your joy will be complete.” (NIV) When was the last time you looked back over your day and thought “my joy is complete”? When was the last time you were satisfied with what you were able to accomplish? The Lord wants that for us every day and He gives us the prescription in His word to make it happen. He tells us in Colossians 3:23-24 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. (NIV) Whatever you do today, do it with all your heart. Let your work, no matter what work that is, be done as if you were working for the Lord Himself. Trust in Him to bless every task, every single minute as the day goes by. He has already promised to do this. Our bank accounts and our skills and abilities are gifts from God, and they are tools that He expects us to use to their fullest potential as we seize the day one minute a time!
“The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.” ~ Deuteronomy 28:12 (NIV)
When was the last time you looked back over your day and thought "my joy is complete"?
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