This is
something I have been hearing more and more about in the recent months, “Finish what
you start!” I can honestly say many times I have started something, only to
stop and never complete them. I must admit the things that I do see through to
completion, I always feel great
about! For example, there were times I wanted to give up and not finish my
bachelor’s degree. Semester’s that I had overloaded myself with classes and
procrastinated on assignments, leading to self-inflicted stress. But with
perseverance, prayer, and God’s help, I stayed the course and graduated in
December, and I can tell you, I feel very accomplished! It feels good to be able
to share this accomplishment on my resume and have the degree needed to be able
to apply for jobs that interest me. Before I felt limited when there was a job
I was interested in but not qualified for.
So what have
you left unfinished? Make a list of everything you’ve left unfinished over the
past six months to a year. Now start to tackle those things one by one. See how
you feel after you complete the first unfinished project. I bet you will feel
so good, that it will inspire you to complete the next, and the next, and so
on! At least, that is what I am finding in my own life. I've made it a point that
I am going to work with God to finish things I’ve started. I know it will be a
process and that I may find some of the projects I started were based on my
emotions not on God's plan for my life. I also know I will have to push past and pray past distractions and negative
inner self-talk that arises from fear. But I also know with each completed
project there is a satisfaction and peace that comes from knowing it was the right thing to do. The positives far outweigh the negatives!
We should strive to do
all things with excellence. Each one of us has a different definition for excellence,
so strive to meet or even exceed your own definition! Start living the
abundant life God has planned for you! Don’t put it off even one more day. Sit
down and write your list and get started. Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed
by it, take it one step at a time…Just imagine how much you will have
accomplished by 2014 if you start today!
Father, I pray for anyone reading this today who has struggled with finishing what they’ve started. I
pray you will give them the strength to stay focused and not let the enemy
distract them from their goals, from Your goals. Victory is right around the corner! Help them
stay the course, knowing that each day brings them one day closer to that
victory. Amen!
Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV) “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the
Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance
from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
2 Corinthians
8:11 (NLT) “Now you should finish what you started. Let the
eagerness you showed in the beginning be matched now by your giving. Give in
proportion to what you have."
