Little by Little

“The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little; you will not be able to put an end to them quickly, for the wild beasts would grow too numerous for you. (Deuteronomy 7:22 NASB)

Do you have big dreams, goals and plans that you would like to see worked out in your life? Are you yearning for a better church, marriage, family life, or education? You may have lost everything in the storms that swept through the Southeast last week and desire a rebuilt home and life after the destruction. We all have these big plans and dreams that seem so far out, but they are achievable if centered in God’s will. Romans 8:31 says, “If God be for us, who can be against us?”

In the book of Deuteronomy, Moses prepares three speeches to the new generation that is about to go in and possess the Promised Land. If you will remember, the generation that came out of Egypt was not willing to walk by faith and trust God to deliver them in battle with the people of Canaan. They refused to fight the good fight of faith. The rebellious Israelites wandered in the wilderness until all of the people 20 years and older died off. They had wasted so much precious time in disobedience. Now, they are standing so close to the fulfillment of God’s promises.

How many times do we seem to get this far in our Christian lives? We are at a stand still where God begins to remind us of what He has done in our past, what He can do now, and what He is going to do in the future? This is a place where we get in over our heads. Life is not about us anymore, and we can’t control it. Facing Israel were seven nations that were greater and mightier, and as soon as they began their march into the Promised Land, they were going to be faced with obstacles. This is where we all like to hide, run or retreat. However this is where the Apostle Paul says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Ephesians 6:11). As a Christian today, we are in no place to back down, let up, retreat, lose heart, or lose focus. Lives are at stake everyday, and we can make a difference!

Will all of the world be won for Christ in one day? Can your church be built strong to glorify God in an hour? Can your marriage climb back to the top where intimacy, open communication, joy and selfless love were more important than money, achievements, and bigger homes? Can families be restored to unity and harmony where love resounds and warmth abounds? God has a method for us to reclaim the ground that we may have lost in battle. John 10:10 reminds us, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” As the children of Israel were told to go in and possess the land, God would defend, defeat, and deliver their enemies into their hands little by little. He could have done it all at once, but they learned to depend and trust in the Lord for their source of strength and life.

What are you facing today that seems to be an impenetrable wall or a mountain too high to cross? Do not let the fear of opposition stop you from the work that God has for you! Be diligent in Bible study, persistent in prayer, focused on giving our Heavenly Father glory and little by little He will bless your obedience, put to shame your enemies, and prove the skeptics wrong. Until unbelievers in Jesus Christ see the evidence of your faith, they will remain in doubt that there is a God in Heaven who judges righteously over all mankind and is worthy of all our praise and adoration. Don’t be discouraged or overwhelmed by the size of the task, but be encouraged that God will give sufficient grace to all who ask!