This morning as I was running on the elliptical trainer, I listened to an app that coached me through the exercise. Maybe you have an app like that where the trainer talks you through and while I don’t get all my advice from apps, I thought today was instructive at this point in my life and worth sharing with you.

For context, 30 minutes, 3.25 miles, not including a mile warm up earlier. These little gems came about every third of the way.

#1. Take the wins you have.

Let me illustrate. Jesus said In Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

A win is a win even when it seems small to us. A win is a win because it means instead of sitting in the darkness, wallowing in self-pity, or excuse, we chose to stand up and take the first steps. Yes, sometimes even that much is today’s win. You may even feel you are in a dark room, but look for the small wins. Darkness can not stand up to even the smallest amount of light. And that small amount of light, the win, can help you find the bigger light.

#2. Take personal responsibility for yourself.

Little wins matter, but they lead to one inevitably conclusion; individual responsibility. Wins come because of the decision to work towards winning. Choosing to wake up, put on workout clothes, and go to the gym are wins because they took personal responsibility to achieve. New Year’s resolutions, diet fads, and personal improvement plans often fail for this one reason alone. Instead of excuses own up to your role. Instead of attempting lean on your own power try leaning on the One who has ALL power. Instead of powering through on your own try surrounding yourself with positive sources for accountability. Little wins matter because they show the initiative of personal responsibility. It starts by saying “I am responsible for me.”

#3. Enjoy the win

We just finished a study of Philippians at Alma School Road in Chandler and this Bible book is one of the very few books where it is hard to pin down the actual problem being addressed. In other epistles, the writers were quick to point towards a clear passage that expressed the problem(s) that needed addressing or the theme of a book (ex. I Cor 7:1, Gal 3:23-26). In Philippians, the book of joy, there seems to be no singular issue per se. IMHO, the issue was not one of sinfulness it was one of not enjoying the full benefits of the win. Bask in it, let it roll over you, feel the sense of progress that it is. Even if it was a small win. It is in the win category. Paul would say this Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice, Phil 4:4.

As my old professor used to say, “I don’t enjoy running on its own, I enjoy the benefits of running.” Today, I was able to not only run but to learn a thing or two along the way. Hope this encouraged you, too.