We are fresh back from our family vacation. This was our first vacation with our new son-in-laws and grandson. We had been looking forward to it for months and we had a wonderful time. Our family loves to rent a house within walking distance to a beach in Florida. Usually we rent a small bungalow, but this year we needed something bigger. We found a beautiful house that easily accommodated our larger family and stayed within our budget. It had everything on our checklist—four bedrooms, three bathrooms, near the beach—and it was lovely.

However, it wasn’t homey. At first I couldn’t figure out why. I didn’t want to sound ungrateful to the kids, but something was not right. After a few days I finally figured it out—it was lacking the things that make a house homey—basic cooking and baking utensils; enough dishes, glasses and flatware for the whole family; table and kitchen linens; no DVD player. Sounds like small things, right? I shouldn’t complain when we were blessed to stay in a beautiful home. But these are the little things that complete a home—that make a house a comfy place for everyone.

Little things have a major effect in every area of our lives. Before we went on vacation God started to show me this in my life. I had been reading in Luke 16 and could not move past verse 10, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones.”

I felt the nudge from God—“Where do I need to be more faithful with little things?” Immediately four areas of my life came to my mind.

• Watch my pennies and I won’t overspend my dollars. Quit believing the lie that this little bit won’t matter. It does.
• Watch my words, especially with my family. I tend to ramble with them. Does it all really need to be said? Is it blessing them? Silence is often better.
• My time. Grab those many moments I waste. When I need a break, instead of wasting time checking social media and losing my momentum, stop and take a break. Check in with God while sitting on the deck for a few minutes. Recently I heard about research on the brain that showed it takes fifteen minutes for our minds to get back to what we were working on after we check email or Facebook.
• My health. The little things lead to big things. For me, exercising every day and sticking with my Weight Watchers plan are crucial to keep me from going back to my unhealthy habits.

I’m not talking about becoming legalistic or having a daily to-do list to earn God’s favor. I’m talking about how the little things play a big part in me becoming and doing what God intended for me. He didn’t intend for me to be sloppy about my life, but purposefully living up to my potential. If I am not faithful with the little things, I will not accomplish the bigger things in my life.

Take a minute and ask God where you need to be more “faithful in little things.” Write them down in your journal or where you keep notes for your life. How can you be more faithful in each of these areas?

What would be the effect in each of these areas if you were faithful to the little things?

 

Brenda Garrison is an author and speaker who empowers women with the confidence to live their calling. Brenda is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ministry Leadership with a Concentration in Women’s Ministry at Moody Bible Institute. She and her husband, Gene, are the parents of three young adult daughters and live near Metamora, IL.