Recently I have been putting a greater focus on small, incremental changes in my life rather than trying to overwhelm myself with the things that I am not doing. For example:
- Working out –
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- I USED TO – Work out for at least 30 minutes a day. And when I say I used to, I mean I tried. It never lasted long.
- NOW – I work out for no more than 10 minutes, and I focus on incremental changes. Example: Ten pushups goes to twenty, and twenty to thirty, etc.
- Journeling –
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- I USED TO – find myself writing about all sorts of things when I journaled. I loved it, but the time wasn’t feasible on a daily basis.
- NOW – I journal for no more than five minutes a day with targeted topics: What did I do yesterday? What did I learn? What is the weather? Things like that.
The idea of “incremental change” is really just “growth”. It is nothing new. Important changes take time. Jesus references this when teaching about the Kingdom in Matthew 13:31-32
Parable of the Mustard Seed
31 He presented another parable to them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field; 32 and this is smaller than all other seeds, but when it is full grown, it is larger than the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that THE BIRDS OF THEAIR come and NEST IN ITS BRANCHES
The Kingdom begins as a seed, and moves through phases. These phases relate to the Kingdom as a whole, and to our journey as citizens of the Kingdom.
Three Phases of the Kingdom:
- Sow– First, the seed must be planted in the right soil. The Kingdom is sown as people hear and accept the message of Jesus Christ.
- Grow – In the right conditions the seed grows.The people in the Kingdom grow as well. I was talking to a friend who was wanting to give up. And I told him, “What if the flower gave up just one centimeter before it finally broke through the ground?” Discomfort, struggle, and perseverance are all required for good healthy growth to occur. A great example is daily exercise.
- Stow – Before long the seed becomes a plant with the strength to support birds and other animals. A critical part of our growing process is the opportunity to help, serve and support others.
The purpose of our growth is to support others who are sowing and growing.
This week, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I need to Sow? If you are not a follower of Jesus Christ, consider this blog a seed and an invitation to coffee sometime so we can talk. 🙂
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- Are you sharing the gospel with others? You may ask God to show you the opportunities to share the most amazing story with others.
- Do I need to Grow?Do you have a list of spiritual things you “should” do. Pick something from that list today and work towards “incremental change”. Maybe it’s starting with two minutes of prayer or Bible reading each day. Maybe it’s attending Church, or getting involved in an area of your church.
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- Do you feel like those around you are “more spiritual”? It is okay for a young child to want to be like a parent. But, it would be odd for the child to look down on him/herself because she/he is still growing. I encourage asking those apparent “more spiritual” people what they do. Pick something from that, and work towards “incremental change” for yourself.
- Do I need to Stow?Are you growing in your walk, but still not serving others? Your growth is not just for you. There are others who need your insight, encouragement, and perspective.
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- Wondering where to start?
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- I encourge starting at home. Look around and find ways to help there: clean the kitchen, sweep the floor, dust, things like that.
- Then look around your community or church and find ways to help.
- If you are an adult, the teenagers in your church could use a spiritual mentor.
- You may also look at ways to serve others at your workplace or school.
- God will show you how and where to serve if you keep your eyes and heart open.
You can’t do everything, but you can do something.
Love and Blessin’s,
