Let me take you back a bit to the book of Genesis, creation in particular. Genesis 1:2. ESV 'The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.' That's a bit of a disorder now isn't it. So God goes ahead and brings some bit of order to things. From there on he commands each of the elements of creation to bring forth what is buried within them, the land the sea and the firmament. God carefully managed and brought order to earth before he could create man, the crown of his creation, his best.
Stay with me. God is a God of order. Now I don't know if you believe in God or not and I don't mean to compel you to do so neither do I mean to preach. But there is something very profound about the nature of God and how he works that a lot of 'Christians' seldom talk about. Management and order. Let me throw another verse at you, Luke 16:10 says, "The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; and the person who is dishonest in very small matters is also dishonest in great ones". If you want God's best, organise the rest.
Alright 2 paragraphs in already let me get straight to the point.
Imagine this: it's Monday morning, 7:23 AM. Your alarm was set for 6:30 AM. You've slammed the snooze button roughly 17 times, and now you're properly late. Properly. You dash about like a headless chicken, shove half a piece of toast in your mouth (not even properly toasted, mind you, just warm bread basically), and rush out the door with your shirt buttoned wrong. (We've all been there, don't even try to deny it.)
Now, this same person, this chronically late, perpetually dishevelled individual (you, perhaps? Or definitely me on numerous occasions) is earnestly praying for a promotion. Or a better job. Or a better pay, business growth. Let me ask you something: Why on earth would God, the universe, your ancestors or your boss, whoever you believe is in charge give you MORE to manage when you can't even manage your alarm clock?
This is where our 40 days come in.
Why 40 days, you might ask? Well, the Bible is rather fond of the number 40, isn't it? Noah and his floating zoo endured 40 days and nights of rain. Moses spent 40 days on Mount Sinai getting the commandments. The Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years (alright, that's years, not days, but you get the point). And most relevant to our discussion, Jesus himself spent 40 days in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted.
But what happened during those 40 days? Was Jesus just sitting about, twiddling his thumbs dying of hunger wondering when it was all going to end and occasionally telling Satan to piss off? No! He was preparing. Organising. Getting his spiritual house in order before embarking on his ministry. 'Organising, preparing and managing'
The number 40 in Biblical numerology often represents a period of testing, trial, or probation. It's a time of preparation before something significant. (And no, I'm not suggesting you need to fast for 40 days. I tried that once and made it to about lunchtime on day one. Turns out I'm more spiritually aligned with a Hobbit than Jesus when it comes to meal schedules.)
So here's what I'm proposing: A 40-day challenge. Not to wander in an actual wilderness (though if you're into hiking, by all means), but to bring order to the wilderness of your life.
Because here's the thing: Luke 16:10 isn't just a nice Bible verse to cross-stitch on a pillow. It's a profound truth about how life works. If you want to achieve great things, don't pray for great things. Learn to organise and manage the small things that you have.
Let me put it another way: God will not trust you with a new great job no matter how much you pray, when you are performing poorly in the job that he has already given you. Getting there late always, performing acts of insubordination (a fancy way of saying you ignore your boss's instructions while complaining about them in the break room). If you want a new great job, perform well in the one that you're in.
This applies to relationships too. You're praying for a spouse while you can't even maintain healthy friendships? (Ouch, that one hit close to home, didn't it?) Or finances. You're asking for more money when your current paycheck disappears faster than free food at a wedding, with nothing to show for it?
Dr. Jordan Peterson (yes, I'm quoting him, don't @ me) often says, "Clean your room before you try to change the world." Uhm this guy on this other youtube video, you will find it he's wearing a military suit. He says "if you want to change the world, start by making your bed". It's the same principle. Master the small before taking on the large and the large will master itself. The bible says let tomorrow worry about itself, what we fail to realise then is the importance of worrying about today, what you have, what you are doing now. That's what you need to worry about.
And there's science behind this too! A 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology found that it takes, on average, 66 days for a new behaviour to become automatic. (Alright, that's more than 40, but 40 is a good start, innit? And it sounds more Biblical, which suits my brand.) The point is, creating new habits and systems takes time and consistent effort. Look at me! 40 working days straight I've been writing a blog article every morning as part of my morning routine waking up at 3:30 am and I must say, now I'm ready to be a mentor in developing habits, change and growth, what da heck! I might even write a book.
Another study from Duke University found that about 45% of our daily behaviours are habitual things we do automatically without conscious decision. So if nearly half of what you do each day is on autopilot, wouldn't it make sense to ensure those automatic behaviours are serving you well?
So here's what I'm suggesting for these 40 days:
Week 1-2: Identify and organise. What small things in your life need better management? Your time? Your desk? Your finances? Your sleep schedule? (If you're reading this at 2 AM, I think we have a winner.)
Week 3-4: Implement systems. Set up that budget. Create that morning routine. Organise that workspace. Establish boundaries in relationships. "Systems are more important than goals," says James Clear in his book "Atomic Habits." (Great book, by the way. If you haven't read it, do. Unless you enjoy chaos and underachievement, in which case, carry on as you were.)
Week 5-6: Maintain and adjust. This is where most people fall off. Maintaining is harder than starting. But remember, we're working on being trustworthy in small things. Consistency is key.
Now, I'm not suggesting this is easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it, and I wouldn't need to write this blog, would I? I'd be off doing something more exciting, like finally learning how to properly fold a fitted sheet. (If anyone knows how to do this without summoning demons, please email me.)
But here's my personal testimony: I've managed to write consistently for 40 days a blog article every single day of the working week, every morning, as part of my own morning routine. Am I Shakespeare? Clearly not. But I'm teaching myself to manage my little time and my little work so that I can be a trustworthy individual to be tasked with more time and more work. Wait...I just repeated this didn't I? Well...
Proverbs 27:23-24 says, "Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds, for riches do not last forever." In other words, pay attention to what you already have. Manage it well. That's the path to more.
So I'm inviting you yes, you, the one reading this who has 17897 unread emails, 3 unwashed coffee mugs on your desk, and a "to-do" list that's more theoretical than practical to join me in this 40-day challenge.
Together, we'll turn our wildernesses into well-ordered gardens. We'll become people who can be trusted with small things, so that larger opportunities can find their way to us. (And if they don't, at least your sock drawer will be organised. And you will get home after a long unsuccessful and stressful day to a made up bed. A bed that you made. Small victories, people.)
Are you in? Drop a comment below or send me a message if you want to join the 40-day mentoring program. We'll start with finding your alarm clock and work our way up from there.
Remember, if you want God's best, you've got to organise the rest.
Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get on with managing my little work well. Because This is What we Do Now!
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