Sports fans are familiar with how momentum can swing from one team to the other. A squad may struggle through the game looking as though they haven’t got a chance, but one small victory like a first down in football or back-to-back buckets in basketball changes the feeling in the air. Players who were dragging now have a bounce in their step, discouraged contestants become energized, & the crowd comes to life. When momentum shifts the aggressors go on the defensive & those on defense go on the offensive.
Momentum is huge in church. Once the devil starts eating our lunch, our numbers drop, our members become discouraged, & everything we do takes a great deal of effort & yields little results. BUT just a couple people get saved, a new family starts attending, or an outreach has better than expected results & suddenly everything changes. Members become energized, new ideas replace old excuses, complaints are exchanged for vision, & enemies become allies.
When just one person decides to start imitating God – showing His love to others, helping the hurting, enjoying life – momentum begins to turn. Enthusiasm becomes contagious, work feels more like play, & the discouraged become encouraged. Rick Warren said, “You can’t create a wave but you can ride it when it comes.” I feel a ripple, don’t you?