Start Where You Are, Not Where You Wish You Were

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He didn't start with a master plan. It began while standing in line at Chicago O'Hare Airport. Someone on the Life. Church team asked how new technologies could change the way we engage with the Bible today. It sparked an idea. Bobby Grunewald, Life. Church's founder, grabbed his phone and searched for the domain name that came to his mind, but it was already taken. Then he found uversion.com and bought it on the spot. He went on to create an online Bible site, but it didn't take off. When the iPhone App Store launched in 2008, they pivoted. They tapped a 19-year-old on staff who simply loved Apple and asked, can we get something working now?

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Welcome to Daily Devotions for Busy Lives. I'm Bart Leger, and today we're talking about something that holds so many of us back, and that is waiting for the perfect moment. We wait to take the next step of faith because we want it to make complete sense, or we wait for ideal conditions. Ideal conditions rarely happen.

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Instead, Scripture tells us something very different.

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Ecclesiastes 11.4 says, Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they never harvest. In other words, if you wait for everything to be just right, you may never actually start. start.

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So, what happened with uversion?

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Uversion became one of the first 200 apps available on the App Store, and by the end of that first weekend, 83,000 people had downloaded the Bible app to their phones. That start with what you have pivot became Uversion. It wasn't perfect out of the gate, but God honored that humble start. And the cool thing is, you probably have it on your phone. One small, imperfect beginning became a worldwide tool that's helped millions read God's Word every single day. I use it as well.

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And when it comes to taking a step of faith, most of us feel the same tension. You know, I'll start when I have more time, when I feel ready, or when circumstances line up, or how about when I'm sure about it, then I'll start. But Ecclesiastes 11.4 reminds us that perfect is a myth. Farmers who wait for flawless weather never plant at all. And the same is true in your spiritual life and in every other area of your life. You may not feel ready to start reading the Bible regularly. You may not feel comfortable enough to have that conversation with a friend. You may not feel you have enough resources, or maybe that you're resourceful enough to start the ministry, or maybe that new idea that's been on your heart. You may not feel strong enough to make that change you know you need to make. But God isn't asking for perfect conditions.

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He's asking for you to have a faithful beginning. He just wants you to start and trust Him with the rest. Now, think about the disciples. Jesus didn't wait until they had it all together.

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Matter of fact, I don't think they ever did, because they were human beings on this side of heaven. They were all pretty rough, weren't they, when Jesus said, follow me? And they started with what they had, right where they were. Starting small doesn't necessarily mean it's destined to stay small.

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Bobby's team didn't know the Bible app would reach around the world. They just took the step in front of them. What step is in front of you today? Maybe it's reaching out to a neighbor, or beginning to pray again.

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Maybe it's time to start writing that book, or join a small group.

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Maybe it's simply obeying the nudge God keeps putting on your heart. Don't wait for perfection.

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What is that famous slogan? Oh yeah, just do it. And God will take even the smallest step and breathe His power into it.

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Here's today's challenge.

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Identify one area where you've been waiting for perfect conditions. Then, take a single small step today. Send that text.

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Set the calendar reminder. Open the Bible. Start where you are, not where you wish you were.

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Lord, thank you that you don't wait for us to be perfect before you invite us to move. Help us take the next small step of obedience today. Trusting that you will guide and strengthen us as we go. Give us the courage to start right where we are. In Jesus' name, amen. Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives.

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Remember, you don't need perfect conditions to start. You just need to obey God today. Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.