Years ago, my wife Laura and I decided to hike to the top of Half Dome in Yosemite National Park without ever training. Let’s just start off by saying this together, “that was really stupid!” Yeah, we realize that now.

If you don’t know, the hike is about fifteen miles of switchbacks with about five thousand feet of elevation change. It’s truly not for beginners. We should have at least walked up and down the driveway a few times before we left.

I am proud to say that we finished. Even though we had to start in the dark and finish in the dark, we made it there and back again inside of sixteen hours. But boy, we were exhausted… for about a month and a half.

The lesson we learned: get ready for the big hill by practicing on smaller hills first.

Let’s put it another way, you have to be faithful with the small things before you tackle the big things.

In fact, that’s exactly what Jesus said. He told us, “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” (Luke 16:10)

Our problem is that we have a problem. (I know, a little redundant, right?) It’s the same problem my wife and I had. It’s the Half Dome or bust mentality.

It’s the attitude that says I want to go for the big things and totally ignore the small things.

But do you want to know the truth? God doesn’t bless that mentality. He blesses the person who is faithful with the small things.

Do you know why? Because it’s in the small things where God gets us ready for the big things. It’s in the little day-to-day attitudes, conversations, and secret things where God works on us the most. It’s his training ground.

Too often, we fudge on the small, thinking it’s okay as long as it gets us to the big one. Don’t let that be you. It’s is not a godly mentality.

Instead, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23-24)

In other words, serve God in the small things and “whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

P.S. – If you don’t believe in the God who created the heavens and the earth, hike Half Dome. It really is one of his masterpieces.

Think about it:

• What are the little things in your life that you need to work on?
• What little things can you do for the glory of God?

Verse of the Day:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24