I tend to usually write about being thankful in October since it is the month of Thanksgiving here in Canada. But I’m not. Instead, I want to talk about victory instead of thankfulness.
Why?
I’ve been thinking of late about the process that leads to victory as a coach as I prepare for a new season and how we need to bring a similar mindset to our lives. How do you see victory in your training of the athletes you work with? We talk a lot about goals, and goals are good things, but what about winning? What about achieving victory? Victory, by definition, is an achievement of mastery or success in a struggle against odds or difficulties. They should be the end product of goals that stretch us.
Perseverance
I talk a lot about perseverance in my pastoral ministry and my coaching. In fact, I was sharing this idea today with a team I’m coaching right now. This works into a lot that I do. The motto of Fit Pastor is ‘train yourself to become Godly’. This is from a verse found in Paul’s first letter to a young pastor named Timothy. Later in the same chapter, he encourages him to “watch your life and doctrine closely, persevere in them, because if you do, you’ll save both yourself and your listener.” (1 Tim. 4:16). How do you persevere? By looking for small wins.
I’m a Canadian but I know that Abraham Lincoln has been consistently rated as the best President in US history. He’s one of my favorites for many reasons. He was energized by moral courage and walked with humility. The result was he rallied a nation in a cause he believed deeply in. The man showed incredible character and is a great role model. Yet the self-taught lawyer suffered many personal hardships and even lost 7 elections before finally being elected President. He prayed not that God would be on his side but that he would be on God’s side.
Building character
How do you get to that level of character? He started with the small things and, the small victories.
So often we’re looking for the big flashy things to ‘do’ in order to grow, realize our talents or live out the plan God has prepared for us. But like with Abraham Lincoln, we build character, we become disciples, we live the fulness of life that God has for us, in the small things. It’s the simple acts, sometimes done day-in and day-out, that shape who we are when the opportunity to shine comes.
So, what can I do? It’s the small battles that lead to the big victories. It’s the grind, its not giving up. This is about persevering, not giving up. What that looks like is making your bed and emptying the sink. It means opening your mail or getting dressed. Wait! Those aren’t world changers! Perhaps, but they will change you. When we can be found faithful in the daily, mundane, routine tasks of life we can be trusted with more. Doing things like this also gives a sense of accomplishment.
These are called small wins.
Building on small wins
Small wins allow us to gain a sense of momentum and even control of our lives. They’re so easy to skip, yet also so easy to do. When we do them we build a habit of accomplishment that can be built upon. Once you develop the habit of doing the mundane you will soon find yourself able to start to move forward in other areas. Take charge there too!
What could this look like? Put together a list of things you need to do. On this add easy things that you can accomplish to gain that sense of achievement and keep momentum going. Also add fun tasks or things to your list to help with motivation when things become challenging. Finally, make a list of the things you are thankful for. At the end of the day, or when you pray, thank God for at least 5 tangible, specific things from that day you’re thankful for. These small wins, this attitude of gratitude, will transfer you from what you were to what God would have you be, you’ll train yourself to be Godly.
Done that? Good! Now bring it into the context of where you influence people. Are you a trainer? A coach? A Sunday School teacher? You have influence. I think you get my point.
You may never be called to do what Abraham Lincoln did, few of us ever will be. By paying attention to the small things, by doing what’s in our control consistently, when the day comes that you have that moment to shine, you will make a difference. You’ll be ready. Until then, make your bed!
