Win Privately

Dear Friend,

Jesus was a man (John 1:14), who grew up in a not so great neighborhood (Matthew 13:53), and was raised by a carpenter and a home-maker (Matthew 13:53). He became "famous" for thousands of years not because of his intellect or inventions, or being an athlete; he was remembered for the way he loved and demanded justice, and for the way he died. He shared meals with the underclass and refused to let bullies pick on them. Let the simplicity of that sink in for a moment.

Often we try to over-implicate the gospel; over-complicate our duty when in reality, it's more simple than we make it. So many of us are wrapped in an idea that if we don't have some out of this world talent or ability we can't contribute to the world around us and that we can't be "great". We get caught up in living or trying to live a life that is not our own. Today I want us to be reminded of the private victories. Private victories are those moments or things you accomplish that no one sees or will ever see, unless you tell them of course. You know, waking up as soon as you hear the alarm rather than pressing snooze 3x, choosing not to eat that extra cookie, finally finishing that book; private victories.

Jesus reminds us to do the same when telling the story of the woman who offers up her last into the offering plate, "41 Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44 They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on (Mark 12:41)." Jesus again reminds us when teaching on prayer. "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 6But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to yourFather, who is unseen. And yourFather, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:5-7)."

Don't get so caught up, in trying to become seen that you loose power and essence in the unseen; which are often the most monumental moments. These private moments and victories become the moments that define us. Make it your goal this week to accomplish those private victories. Get out of bed on time, drink more water, put the box of cereal back on the shelf where you found it rather then stuffing it where it's most convenient (don't act like y'all don't know what I'm talking about), eat more vegetables. Win privately, because at the end of it all you face yourself and no one else; especially not some false life you wish you had/attempted to live out on social media. Make enough of those victories and I promise you they will began to change you. Change you so much that people will start to notice.

Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people." Colossians 3:23

Abundantly With Love,

The Anonymous Wife