People will mock small beginnings because they can’t see beyond the end of their own nose. Hand them a tissue and move on.

 

Let’s use the following example.

 

A church starts with a vision given to a pastor by the Holy Spirit. That pastor may share the vision with his wife and they pray about it together as they develop the vision. Now there three involved: God, the pastor, the pastor’s wife.

 

They may set up their living room and invite a few people over and begin their Sunday service. One person they invited might show up. Now they have four involved.

 

They don’t let the fact that only one person showed up stop their vision. They continue in it. Eventually that one person invites a couple they know to go with them to a Sunday service. Now there are six involved.

 

That couple knows two other couples who have been looking for a church so they invite them. Only one of the couples shows up the following Sunday. Now there are eight people involved.

 

Getting the picture yet?

 

We have to stop viewing success as the end result.

 

We have to view success as walking out the vision. Success is accomplished in the beginning by taking the first step. Success is accomplished in the follow-through.

 

Success is achieved through the process.

 

When we view success as the end goal, we will be disappointed along the way. View every step as a victory and be thankful for even the smallest of accomplishments.

 

My husband and I have a certain goal in regards to finances we are working towards. We count the pennies. Literally. A found penny goes towards our goal. When he texts me a photo of coin he found, I text back the amount of our goal less the amount of that coin. Yesterday he found a dollar blowing across one parking lot and a dime in another. Today he found a penny. I texted him back the amount of our goal, less the penny. It’s one step closer to our goal. We count it all joy and all victory.

 

I know what God has spoken to me through the years in regards to my writing. He told me I would reach the world. I looked at the yearly stats for just my blog last night. In 2017 alone, I have reached 9 countries. There are a total of 196 countries. I have 187 to go.

 

I’ve already had to fight off the words of the enemy and doubt such as, “Really? You think that counts? You posted your link and they clicked on it, how does that count? Look, you only reached one person in New Zealand and one person in Singapore. How does that count?”

 

I had to look the devil in the face and “spit-talk” at him…”It counts because it’s fulfilling a God-given vision!”

 

That one person in Singapore may have been encouraged enough by something they read, that God gave me, to go and share with a group of 100 people. Or not. It’s not my place to know.

I can say when I read your comments of how you have been encouraged, I give God all the glory for it! I see His purpose being carried out and I get happy over that.

 

My obedience to the vision God gave is simple: write and share.

 

He told me I would reach the world. I see it happening. It may be small beginnings but I am victorious in the vision already because I am running the race. I am obedient to Him. There is more to the vision that God gave me and I am walking it out. It’s not arrogance or haughtiness when you follow His direction knowing that He works all things out for good. It only takes one person to change the world. I may not be that person but I may reach the one who can. I may encourage the one who does. We weren’t meant to live this life alone.

 

Be faithful in the visions and dreams God gives you. Walk them out no matter how slow or fast they seem to come to fruition. If it’s of God, then it’s worth the walk.

 

Don’t let the mocking tones, looks or words of doubt from others deter you from what God Himself instructed you to do. Don’t join them either. Keep your faith. Keep your words of victory.

 

Pray for those you see walking their vision out. God honors that. Brothers and sisters in Christ should pray for one another and lift one another up. Encourage each other in ministry even if their ministry is set apart from yours. They have people they can reach and you have people you can reach. Keep on keeping on.

 

Philippians 2:2-4 (KJV) www.biblegateway.com

Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.