Two Words that Change Lives

Daniel 8:4

I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; so that no beasts might stand before him, neither was there any that could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and became great.

Several times in this chapter, we see the word great. It says in the verse above, and became great. It says in verse 8, waxed very great. It says in verse 9, waxed exceeding great. It says in verse 10, and it waxed great. What was the key to the greatness? The key is found in two words: he did. Had this ram not done something, the greatness would've never been achieved.

Greatness is not found in the vision and ideas, but greatness is found in the doing of the vision and ideas. All the ideas in the world do nothing if somebody doesn't take those ideas and do them. Many people can have a vision for something to be done, but the vision itself has never done one thing. For a vision to become a reality, somebody has to start building toward that vision before it can become a reality. I believe we make too much of the vision and the ideas instead of the doing, when it is in the doing that the vision and the ideas become a reality. Let me share several thoughts about the importance of doing.

First, doing is never easy, but it must be done. Many people wait for something to become easy before they start doing, but if you're waiting for the easy times, you will never do what it takes for the idea and vision to become a reality. Anything worth doing will never be easy to do. Those who have done great works did those great works through much struggle. Nobody has ever achieved greatness on the road of ease; they achieved greatness through doing what they're supposed to do, even when it was not easy.

Second, don't wait until everything is ready to start doing what you can do. This is where faith comes in; faith is starting out on the impossible and going as far as you can, and trusting that God will provide what you need when you come to the end of your provision. What I have found through life is that if I will go as far as I can go, God always provides when I get to the end of what I initially saw. If you wait until everything falls into place before you start doing, you will never start doing, which will result in never seeing anything great happen in your life.

Third, start doing what you can do and don't stop until you are finished. Greatness is found in doing right repeatedly. Greatness is found in doing day in and day out when the doing is no longer exciting. Too many only do when it is exciting to do, and then stop doing when the excitement wears off, only to find many projects started, but never completed. Those who found greatness are those who do when it is exciting to do and never stop doing when the excitement wears off. Greatness is found in doing the mundane when it is no longer exciting to do. Don't do because it is exciting but do because it is right to do.

My friend, this world needs to see great works of God, but they will never see those great works if you don't start doing what you know you are to do. There is greatness in everyone's life, but few achieve that greatness because few ever do what is right continuously until the great project is done. You will always find two words in the lives of great people: they did. Let me challenge you to stop talking about doing something, do it.