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Have you ever wondered what your life might look like five years from now? It's a question that can spark both excitement and anxiety. But what if we approached this question from a spiritual perspective? What if we considered God's vision for our lives and how we can position ourselves to receive His promises?

There's an ancient Chinese proverb that reminds us, "Even a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." This wisdom encapsulates a profound truth about personal and spiritual growth. Every significant change, every monumental achievement, starts with small, seemingly insignificant actions. It's about keeping on stepping, ensuring you're heading in the right direction, and trusting that each step brings you closer to your destination.

This concept of small steps leading to significant change is beautifully illustrated in Proverbs 29:18: "Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law." This verse underscores the importance of having a clear vision – not just any vision, but God's vision for our lives. Without it, we risk living aimlessly, unrestrained and unfulfilled.

Consider the story of Abraham, a man to whom God made extraordinary promises when he was 75 years old. God promised him offspring as numerous as the stars and that he would become the father of many nations. Yet, Abraham had to wait 25 years before Isaac, the son of promise, was born. Throughout this time, Abraham trusted God, believed His word, and it was credited to him as righteousness.

This example of faith is mirrored in Romans 3:22, which speaks of "the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe." It's a reminder that our relationship with God is founded on trust and belief, regardless of our circumstances. This faith isn't just about securing a place in heaven; it's about partnering with God to impact the world around us positively.

God had a vision for Abraham's life, just as He had for Moses, and just as He has for each of us. Ephesians 2:10 beautifully articulates this truth: "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." This verse assures us that we can't fail – God has already set up good works for us to walk in.

However, it's crucial to understand that God's promises often unfold in stages. The Israelites' journey to the Promised Land is a powerful illustration of this. After being freed from slavery in Egypt, they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years – a tragic picture of what happens when we don't take God at His word. Yet, even in their disobedience, God's promise persisted. As Isaiah 55:11 declares, God's word never returns void but always accomplishes its purpose.

Sometimes, God fulfills His promises "little by little." Deuteronomy 7:22 tells us, "The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you." This gradual fulfillment isn't a sign of God's reluctance or inability, but of His wisdom. He knows exactly how much we can handle and maintain at any given time.

So, how do we position ourselves to receive God's vision and promises? It starts with small, consistent steps – steps that are "too small to fail." Here are five practical ways to grow spiritually:

1. Read the Bible every day – even if it's just one verse. Meditate on it, let it transform you.

2. Pray every day – even if it's just for one minute. Position your heart to receive God's plan for your life.

3. Praise or worship God – aim for at least one song a week. This purposefully positions our hearts towards God.

4. Physically pray for someone outside of church – once a week. This helps us look beyond ourselves and connect with others' needs.

5. Practice a kingdom mindset – if what you do, say, or think isn't transforming you to be more like Jesus, reconsider it.

The key to these goals is to make them small enough that you can't fail. Don't let two days go by without doing them, and track your progress daily. These small steps, over time, lead to significant transformation.

Remember, God's vision for your life is bigger than you can imagine. It's not just about you; it's about God in you. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, we are "being transformed into his image from one degree of glory to another." This transformation is a process, a journey of change that requires our active participation.

It's easy to stay the same, to fall into spiritual laziness. But God's plan for us isn't to get saved and then sit around until Jesus returns. He calls us to bear fruit, to take action, to step into all that He has for us.

As you consider your life five years from now, remember that it's up to you how different it will look. Will you take those small, consistent steps towards God's vision for your life? Will you position yourself to receive His promises?

God has promises for your life, just as He had for Abraham, Moses, Joshua, and Israel. Say yes to taking that first step on your thousand-mile journey. If you do, your life will look totally different in five years – transformed by the power of God working in and through you.

In the end, we're all "too small to fail" in God's eyes. Our part is to trust, to take those small steps of faith, and to keep our eyes fixed on the vision He has for us. As we do, we'll find ourselves on an incredible journey of transformation, stepping into all that God has prepared for us.