It Starts Small

Lydia was a businesswoman in her community. We encounter her in God’s Word as having embraced the opportunity to know Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Fear holds us back from making decisions, but today we see Lydia embrace the possibilities of what God has in store for her. Is fear keeping us from all God has for us?

 ¹³ On the Sabbath day we went outside the city gate by the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women gathered there. ¹⁴ A God-fearing woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, was listening. The Lord opened her heart to respond to what Paul was saying. ¹⁵ After she and her household were baptized, she urged us, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.

 ⁴⁰ After leaving the jail, they came to Lydia’s house, where they saw and encouraged the brothers and sisters, and departed.

Acts 16:13-15, 40

SO many times we let fear be a determining factor in our decisions. Maybe you are in need of a career change, desire to pursue healthy relationships or make changes to your health. Maybe God is calling you to step out of your comfort zone and serve Him. The reality is, no matter what action God is calling us to pursue and embrace, we need a God given courage to take that first step.

When God opens the door, He is NOT going to leave us a the threshold. God promises to work through and in us and He will give us EVERYTHING we need to accomplish our God-given tasks.

Let’s re-read out scripture n Ephesians together.

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—
Ephesians 3:20

If we choose to lean on Him and into His guiding hands He will accomplish His will and purpose in your life.

Lydia was a prominent businesswoman. She lived in Thyatira. She had heard Paul preach the Gospel and seized the opportunity to receive Christ as her Savior. She publicly confessed her faith and was baptized. Then she immediately began sharing her faith and testimony to her entire house. They were all saved.

Lydia embraced the opportunity to become Paul’s first European convert and accepted God’s calling to lead others to saving faith in Christ. She even opened her home as a gathering place for believers.

Is there an opportunity or challenge God is calling you to accept?

If so, what is holding you back?

Courageously embrace your God-given opportunities by practicing the following:

• Identify your God-given opportunities.
• Pinpoint and challenges keeping you from embracing the possibilities.
• Ask loved ones and friends for support.
• Determine the necessary steps and actions.

When God opens our hearts to an opportunity, He expects us to embrace it and will give us everything we need to accomplish the task.

What opportunity is God calling you to embrace?

List the steps you can take today to engage this opportunity.

© Kimberlee Smith 2025 http://www.itstartssmall.com All rights reserved.