29: Celebrate Small Victories

Key Passage

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

From the 20 Practices of Disciplemakers:

All too often, people think that they have to be perfect and not make mistakes. This hinders their growth. The disciples that Jesus gathered together were an uneducated bunch of misfits. Their redeeming quality was that they simply followed.

They didn't always get it right. They fought amongst themselves and struggled to come to grips with this upside-down Kingdom. Jesus was patient with them.

As a discipler, be patient with those you disciple and celebrate the small victories as well as the big ones. When you point them to Jesus, to follow Him, love Him and obey what He says to them, you can rejoice too. We become like the one we worship and follow.

For example, if one of those that you disciple struggles with getting drunk and they begin to hear the Holy Spirit convict them of this, they will want to quit drinking. Chances are that they may make it sober for two or three days and then slip up. Many times, we are so disappointed if this happens. Rather, we should celebrate the 3 sober days with them. Encourage them to try for 4 days the next week. Eventually, with your encouragement, they will learn to walk out of behavior that does not honor God and instead lives a life that brings Him glory.

Allow the Holy Spirit to bring the conviction, be patient and very encouraging. This is the way of the Kingdom.