“You don’t need endless time and perfect conditions. Do it now. Do it today. Do it for twenty minutes and watch your heart start beating.”

–Barbara Sher

My friend Linda believes that dreams become reality when you have a working plan. First, she prays for a plan; then she works the plan.

Linda and her husband, Gary, had two separate dreams for their newly acquired 40 acres of land. Previously a dairy farm, the land was lush with magnolia, pine and fruit trees. A grand old barn stood among the trees as a reminder of the past. Linda’s dream was a new house with a trail of roses leading up to the front porch. Gary’s vision was larger: Why not build two houses, one for themselves and one for their daughter and son-in-law? Why not start a family business—a poultry farm?

The success of such an operation would require total family cooperation and a seven-day workweek, leaving very little time for anything else. The thought of such a schedule took Linda far beyond her comfort zone. Nevertheless, while Gary cleared the land and began building, she prayed for a plan to carry out her new lifestyle.

Soon the two houses were built and the two families moved in. Then Gary cleared more land and built houses for the chickens. By the time the roosters and hens arrived, Linda had her plan. Each day must begin at 4 a.m., when she would prepare breakfast and do housework. She would then do sunrise shopping at the nearby grocery and Wal-Mart stores. When these chores were completed, she would then join her daughter for their day’s work at the poultry farm.

This daily routine proved to be efficient, for the chickens were thriving and the farm was running smoothly. However, as my diligent friend walked the pathway between the main house and the farm each day, she longed to see the rest of her dream come true. Her home was incomplete without flowers. But gardening would take time and work, and there seemed to be no time left over.

Linda believes that God can do anything, even stretch the hours of the day to include what is necessary for a fulfilled life. As she prayed, the inspiration came, “Take 20 minutes a day and just begin.”

Two years later, the flower gardens blossomed with color, providing a playground for butterflies; the driveway was lined with roses, and the color of my faithful friend’s thumb had changed to bright green. Seeing the evidence of this, Gary had a new idea. He began renovating the old barn to create a greenhouse. Now Linda’s question was, “Where will I find time to maintain the greenhouse?” The answer came: “Take 20 minutes a day and just begin.”

Several years have quickly come and gone since I wrote this story for Cross Walk Newspaper, but Linda’s idea about taking 20 minutes to begin something you really want to do still intrigues me. Even though I am now old and long retired, my days are still busy, and I want to accomplish much more with the time I have left.

So what could I do in 20 minutes today? I could pray for 20 minutes about that problem that doesn’t seem to have an answer. I could call a friend and give words of encouragement. I could write in my journal, or begin reading the Book of Proverbs. I could write the opening lines for a book. I could send texts to my grandchildren. I could begin cleaning out a closet.

What do you think would happen if every Christian took just 20 minutes each day to pray for America and its leaders, asking God to intervene in our troubled world?