Slow Progress Is Still Progress - Your Nightly Prayer - January 16th

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Slow Progress Is Still Progress
Your Nighlty Prayer
by Clarence Haynes Jr.

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24

SOMETHING TO PONDER

About two years ago, my wife gifted me with personal training sessions at a local gym where we live. I had not worked out for a while, so I knew this would be a challenge for me. After the initial trial, I signed up for some group sessions, which would include approximately four to six people. On our cardio day, we did an exercise that followed the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas. We started with 30 seconds on the bike. Then we would do two kettlebell swings, then 30 seconds on the bike. Then three mountain climbers, two kettlebell swings, and 30 seconds on the bike. I think you are getting the picture. We did this all the way up to the twelfth day.

This was my first time doing this, and I was terribly out of shape, so most of the people were finished by the time I got to day eleven. Thankfully, they were kind and did the twelfth day with me. A few months later, we repeated this exercise, and I noticed I was keeping up with everyone else. By the next time we did it, I was not finishing last, and I was encouraging and helping others finish. Every time we did this, I saw progress.

This is so often how we progress in our walk with God. It may appear that nothing is happening or you are being left behind, yet if you have taken steps today that you could not take before, that is progress. Maybe you used to fly off the handle when someone cut you off when driving. Now it still bothers you, but you can control your response. That is progress. True progress means you are moving in the direction God wants you to go, and it is not necessarily measured by how fast you get there.

In life, there will be times when you feel like things are moving fast and others when it feels like nothing is happening at all. In these moments, ask yourself, have I taken a step I didn’t before, and am I moving in the direction God has for me? If the answer is yes, then you have made progress, regardless of how slow it feels.

Avoid the comparison game.

One thing that hinders progress is the comparison game because it can create discouragement. You may wonder why it seems like everyone else is moving ahead and I am still stuck. Has God forgotten about me? If you measure yourself against anyone else in this way, you are sure to feel left behind. That’s why it is critical to focus on your race and no one else’s. The circumstances of your life are not the same, and the resources you have available are not the same. Even if they were, it does not matter. Your job is to take steps forward, even if they feel small.

God’s plan for you does not mirror anyone else’s plan, so run the race he has given you. Even if you take longer to get to the finish line, if God has called you to it, he will make sure you arrive at your destination. Just remember it will happen in his time, so as you run, remember God is faithful. Take each step with the confidence that God is working in you even when the progress feels slow.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Father,
Thank you for progress. Sometimes I feel as if everyone else is so far ahead and nothing is happening. Honestly, it makes me feel forgotten. Remind me tonight that you have not forgotten me and that your work is not always about speed, but about depth and building character. Help me appreciate where I am now so I don’t miss the lessons you want me to learn at this point. As I walk with you, let me find joy in the journey and focus on where you are taking me and not on how long it takes to get there. Let me know tonight that you are faithful and will accomplish what you set out to do. Let this be the place where my hope, trust, and confidence lie today and every day.
This I pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. God is never in a hurry to accomplish things in your life because his goal is not just to help you arrive but to ensure you can stand when you get there.

2. People are all at different stages. Some are ahead of you and some behind you. Neither should affect how you feel about where you are.

3. Looking back occasionally can be a great source of encouragement because you can see how far you have come.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Olivia Snow

Clarence L. Haynes Jr. is a dynamic speaker, Bible teacher, and co-founder of The Bible Study Club, dedicated to helping people live with purpose and clarity. In addition to his ministry work, Clarence has spent the last 13 years as a trusted financial educator, guiding thousands of people across the country—including employees at many Fortune 500 companies—toward lasting financial wellness. His unique ability to blend practical wisdom with spiritual insight equips people to thrive in every area of life.

He is the author of The Pursuit of Purpose, which helps readers understand how God leads them into his will, and the author of The Pursuit of Victory: How To Conquer Your Greatest Challenges and Win In Your Christian Life. Clarence is also committed to helping 10,000 people learn how to study the Bible and has released his first course, Bible Study Basics, to achieve that goal. To learn more about his ministry and resources, please visit clarencehaynes.com.

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