Completion

Begins with a First Step of Faith

COMPLETION is a word that brings feelings of satisfaction, achievement, and finality. It can also usher in a bit of anxiety, apprehension, and reluctance to even begin because the task, vision, or dream seems too daunting. Completion begins with taking one initial step of faith and then moves us forward one more small or big step at a time. Once we understand that, it becomes much more manageable and possible, instead of something unattainably wishful out on the horizon. In addition to taking steps of faith, completion also requires commitment, self-discipline, and at minimum, a loosely garnered plan. Completion begins with knowing the direction in which we are headed. It doesn’t guarantee we won’t encounter some missteps or bumps in our path—don’t be discouraged; just keep going. There may be hills and valleys, but they all contribute to our beautiful journey. Look up and notice the evident and sometimes hidden blessings along the way to completion.

Some things can be completed in an hour, some in a day, while others require much more time and dedication.

If you would have told me back in 2016 that I would write eight Bible studies and devotional books, I would have sincerely doubted. Fortunately, I didn’t feel the weight of that pressure, I just followed God’s leading one sentence and page at a time. None of it was accomplished in my strength or wisdom alone. It was through abiding in the Lord, taking walks with Him, praying, and listening to His voice that gave me the vision and framework of what to write. Every completion transpires from a beginning.

• Has God laid something on your heart that He would like you to complete? What first steps do you need to take in your journey to making that happen?

God lays something different on each of our hearts: it could be to get the laundry folded and put away; or to work on being completely present and in the moment for your family. Maybe He’s asking you to simply complete the day by resting in His presence, trusting in His ways, and growing in your faith.

God is the author of completion:

Genesis 2:1, “Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.”

With just a word, God spoke the world and universes beyond our comprehension into existence—nothing was missing.

Matthew 8:25-26, “The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”

Jesus can utterly calm our hearts in the middle of life’s storms, if and when we call out to Him.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

When Jesus returns, our understanding of who He is and who we are in Christ will be completely realized.

Philippians 1:6, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Sanctification is the process of becoming more and more like Jesus. The Holy Spirit is continually refining us, and when the Lord returns, we will finally be made perfect.

1 John 4:12, 16-17, “No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us… God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. “

God is love. His love is sacrificial—remember Jesus’ sacrifice for us. His love is made complete when we love each other to the lavish extreme that He loves us.

Completion—such a big, bold, beautiful, hopeful word when we see it from God’s vantage point.

• Pause, pray, and ask the Lord to show you how He wants to apply this word in your life today.

This picture of Authur's Seat was taken in Edinburgh, Scotland. The path, much like life, has twists and turns, bumps and dips on the way to reaching the top. As you can see, the whole journey is magnificent.

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