I remember when God planted a seed in my heart to pray for the nations. I had a large multicolored map on my wall and I was in awe of the massive opportunities for prophetic intercession. Suddenly, the Lord illuminated a tiny speck of an island on this map, one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean. This was my prayer assignment. I was somewhat disappointed. I wanted to storm the heavens of pivotal nations in the earth, but the Lord gave me a small beginning.
It was a lesson in “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much” (Luke 16:10, NKJV). I prayed faithfully for that tiny nation, its people, its safety, and that the gospel would break in there and bring salvation. God would later give me more substantial intercessory assignments and later, in 2007, wake me up at midnight to share His heart about the state of America and the coming Great Awakening. “Don’t despise small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin” (Zech. 4:10 NLT). All promotion comes from God.
I also remember when God planted a seed in my heart to impact the nations through the written word. I had the best computer I could afford and plenty of ideas, but no platform. Suddenly, God gave me an opportunity to edit books for other Christian ministers. I did my best to add value to their work, hoping one day to write my own Christian books and materials.
Fast-forward just a few years, and my work has been read in almost every nation in the earth. Some has been archived in the Assembly of God’s Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center Museum and other works have been translated into Spanish and Korean. It was a lesson in “If you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” (Luke 16:12, NKJV) Put another way, when you are faithful over another man’s gift, God will let you use your own in a great way.
Now, I’m on to the biggest challenge I’ve ever tackled in my life. Something big that God uniquely called me to do. And I have to remind myself once again not to despise the day of small beginnings. The work is hard. The help is little. The resistance is tall and the encouragement lacking. The budget is limited and there have been plenty of setbacks. And yet I’ve seen God’s hand all over the small beginnings. I have to constantly remind myself “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit” (Zech. 4:6). And I am convinced that we will see the glory of the Lord.
How about you? What has God called you to do? Are you in the day of small beginnings even now? The Lord is rejoicing to see the work begin and He will help you every step of the way. Don’t take my word for it. Look at the Bible … King David had a small beginning in a field tending sheep and experienced more intense warfare than you or I will probably ever witness. Nehemiah rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem with a remnant despite the opposition and the odds. The Bible is full of examples of God uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.
If you are in the day of small beginnings, take heart. Again, the Lord is rejoicing to see the work begin and He who called you to the work is faithful to strengthen your hands to do it, faithful to send workers into the field he called you to, faithful to help you overcome even the devil’s best shot, faithful to encourage you by His Spirit and with His Word, faithful to provide all of your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus, and faithful to lead you into victory if you keep pressing toward the prize. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it (1 Thess. 5:23). Amen.
Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including Did the Spirit of God Say That?. You can email Jennifer at
[email protected] or visit her website here.
