With the beginning of a new year comes an opportunity for you and me to set realistic goals.

A fresh start. To put aside old habits and to start new habits that build character. Too often, when we are developing a good habit, we find ourselves giving up before we ever see results. Often our dreams and plans may appear they are not succeeding. When this happens, we quit trying and even give up!

The Far East is known for planting a tree called the Chinese bamboo. During the first four years, they will water and fertilize the plant with seemingly little or no results. Then in the fifth year, they apply water and fertilizer, and in just five weeks, that tree will grow an incredible 90 feet. The obvious question, did the Chinese bamboo grow 90 feet in five weeks, or did it grow 90 feet in five years? The right answer, of course, is it grew 90 feet in five years because if at any time the people had stopped watering and fertilizing, the tree would have died.

When you have a dream from God, don’t give up, but continue to nurture the seeds of that vision God has given you.

If you continue to persevere and endure, you will reap a harvest. In 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul writes,

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Don’t quit. Don’t give up. Keep doing the little things that will make you great!

I’m Pastor Cal, and I pray you reach a heart through this Reach the Heart Moment.