Embracing Small Steps for Significant Transformation
Summary
Today, we reflect on the profound truth found in the book of Zechariah: "Do not despise the day of small things." This message is a reminder that significant change and transformation often begin with small, seemingly insignificant actions. The Israelites, returning from exile, faced the daunting task of rebuilding the temple, a shadow of its former glory. Yet, God encouraged them to persevere, not by might or power, but by His Spirit. This principle applies to our lives as well. Transformation happens one moment, one thought, one act, and one habit at a time. The scriptures are filled with habits we can cultivate, inviting God to be part of them, leading to transformation over time.
In our modern context, books like "Tiny Habits" by BJ Fogg and "Atomic Habits" by James Clear echo this biblical wisdom. They emphasize the power of small, consistent actions. We often dismiss small changes because they don't seem to matter immediately. However, these tiny habits, like atoms, are fundamental units that contribute to our overall improvement. They build on each other, leading to significant transformation over time.
One practical example is the habit of rising in the presence of the elderly, as mentioned in Leviticus. This small act of respect can transform our society, reminding us to honor all people, especially those marginalized by age. Similarly, in our personal lives, starting with small habits can lead to significant change. For instance, if keeping a clean office feels overwhelming, start by putting away just one book. This small win can build momentum and lead to greater achievements.
Three barriers often hinder our habit formation: grandiosity, discouragement, and self-condemnation. Grandiosity makes us want to change everything at once, which is unrealistic. Discouragement sets in when we don't see immediate results. Self-condemnation tells us we're not enough. Instead, approach change with humility, curiosity, and a scientific mindset. Start small, celebrate wins, and remain open to learning.
Finally, adopt a posture of openness and gratitude. Like Bob Goff's clients who sit with palms up during depositions, we should live with open hands, ready to receive from God. This posture reminds us of our vulnerability and dependence on Him. As we meditate on God's works and stretch out our hands to Him, we cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility, enabling us to love God and others more deeply.
Key Takeaways:
- Embrace the power of small beginnings. Just as the Israelites rebuilt the temple one stone at a time, our lives are transformed through small, consistent actions. These small steps, empowered by God's Spirit, lead to significant change over time. [02:17]
- Cultivate habits that honor God and others. Simple acts, like rising in the presence of the elderly, remind us to respect and honor all people. These small habits can transform our society and reflect God's love. [03:54]
- Overcome barriers to habit formation by starting small. Avoid grandiosity, which leads to unrealistic expectations, and focus on achievable goals. Celebrate small wins to build momentum and avoid discouragement. [08:29]
- Approach change with curiosity and humility. Self-condemnation is not a productive fuel for transformation. Instead, view your life like a scientist, experimenting with what works and adjusting as needed. [09:50]
- Live with open hands, ready to receive from God. This posture of vulnerability and gratitude reminds us of our dependence on Him and opens our hearts to His love and guidance. [11:45]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:41] - The Day of Small Things
[01:09] - Rebuilding the Temple
[02:04] - Overcoming Mountains
[02:29] - Jesus and Small Beginnings
[03:00] - Habits in Scripture
[03:15] - Respecting the Elderly
[04:09] - Tiny and Atomic Habits
[05:14] - The Slow Pace of Transformation
[06:04] - The Power of Tiny Routines
[07:03] - Motivation and Ability
[07:48] - Barriers to Habit Formation
[09:08] - The Importance of Small Wins
[10:15] - Living with Open Hands
[12:01] - Closing Remarks
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
- Zechariah 4:6-10
- Leviticus 19:32
- Psalm 143:5-6
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Observation Questions:
1. What was the context in which the phrase "Do not despise the day of small things" was originally spoken in the book of Zechariah? How does this relate to the rebuilding of the temple? [01:09]
2. According to the sermon, what are some examples of small habits mentioned in the Bible that can lead to transformation? [03:00]
3. How do the books "Tiny Habits" by BJ Fogg and "Atomic Habits" by James Clear relate to the biblical principle of small beginnings? [04:09]
4. What are the three barriers to habit formation mentioned in the sermon, and how do they affect our ability to change? [08:04]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the principle "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit" apply to personal transformation and overcoming challenges in life? [01:50]
2. How does the act of rising in the presence of the elderly, as mentioned in Leviticus, serve as a small habit that can transform societal attitudes towards respect and honor? [03:15]
3. What does it mean to approach change with curiosity and humility, and how does this mindset differ from self-condemnation? [09:50]
4. How does living with open hands, as described in the sermon, symbolize a posture of vulnerability and gratitude towards God? [11:45]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a small habit you have been wanting to start. What is one tiny step you can take this week to begin cultivating this habit? [04:09]
2. Consider a situation in your life where you have felt discouraged by slow progress. How can you celebrate small wins to build momentum and avoid discouragement? [08:29]
3. Identify a person in your life who you can show respect to by adopting the habit of rising in their presence. How might this small act impact your relationship with them? [03:15]
4. Think about a challenge you are currently facing. How can you apply the principle of "not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit" to this situation? [01:50]
5. What is one area of your life where you tend to approach change with grandiosity? How can you adjust your expectations to start small and build from there? [08:17]
6. Reflect on a time when self-condemnation has hindered your growth. How can you adopt a more curious and humble approach to personal change? [09:50]
7. Practice living with open hands this week by identifying one thing you are grateful for each day. How does this practice affect your relationship with God and others? [11:45]
Devotional
Day 1: Embrace Small Beginnings
Significant change often starts with small, seemingly insignificant actions. The Israelites, upon returning from exile, faced the overwhelming task of rebuilding the temple. Despite its humble beginnings, God encouraged them to persevere, not by might or power, but by His Spirit. This principle applies to our lives as well. Transformation happens one moment, one thought, one act, and one habit at a time. Books like "Tiny Habits" by BJ Fogg and "Atomic Habits" by James Clear echo this biblical wisdom, emphasizing the power of small, consistent actions. These tiny habits, like atoms, are fundamental units that contribute to our overall improvement, building on each other to lead to significant transformation over time. [02:17]
"For who has despised the day of small things? These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range through the whole earth." (Zechariah 4:10, ESV)
Reflection: What small habit can you start today that, with God's help, could lead to significant change in your life over time?
Day 2: Cultivate Habits of Honor
Simple acts, like rising in the presence of the elderly, remind us to respect and honor all people. These small habits can transform our society and reflect God's love. In Leviticus, the act of standing in the presence of the elderly is a sign of respect and honor. This small gesture can have a profound impact on how we view and treat others, especially those who are often marginalized. By cultivating habits that honor God and others, we create a culture of respect and love that mirrors the heart of God. [03:54]
"You shall stand up before the gray head and honor the face of an old man, and you shall fear your God: I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:32, ESV)
Reflection: What is one small act of respect you can incorporate into your daily routine to honor those around you?
Day 3: Overcome Barriers with Small Steps
Overcoming barriers to habit formation requires starting small. Grandiosity leads to unrealistic expectations, while discouragement sets in when immediate results aren't seen. Self-condemnation tells us we're not enough. Instead, approach change with humility, curiosity, and a scientific mindset. Start small, celebrate wins, and remain open to learning. By focusing on achievable goals and celebrating small victories, we build momentum and avoid discouragement. This approach allows us to overcome the barriers that often hinder our progress. [08:29]
"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." (Romans 12:11, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a barrier you face in forming a new habit. What is one small step you can take today to overcome it?
Day 4: Approach Change with Curiosity and Humility
Self-condemnation is not a productive fuel for transformation. Instead, view your life like a scientist, experimenting with what works and adjusting as needed. This approach encourages a mindset of curiosity and humility, allowing us to learn and grow without the burden of self-judgment. By embracing this perspective, we open ourselves to new possibilities and allow God to work in and through us in unexpected ways. [09:50]
"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you can adopt a more curious and humble approach to change?
Day 5: Live with Open Hands
Living with open hands, ready to receive from God, is a posture of vulnerability and gratitude. This posture reminds us of our dependence on Him and opens our hearts to His love and guidance. As we meditate on God's works and stretch out our hands to Him, we cultivate a heart of gratitude and humility, enabling us to love God and others more deeply. This openness allows us to receive the blessings and guidance that God has for us, transforming our lives in the process. [11:45]
"I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land." (Psalm 143:6, ESV)
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to open your hands and heart to receive from God today?
Quotes
"Do not despise the day of small things. It's very important when it comes to Habit and change. That sentence was spoken initially to folks because people had been living in Exile and they were beginning to return to Jerusalem. There was a governor of Judah named Zerubbabel and he was going to try to rebuild the Temple but it looked pretty miserable. They were comparing it the older people to the glory of the Temple of Solomon and it was a sad miserable tiny little shadow of what had once been a glorious thing." [00:01:09]
"And so they were tempted to think this isn't really worth it this is not going to mean anything and then it took such a long time it was a decades-long process just one rock after another rock after another rock but part of what it says in the text is this is the word of the Lord desirable not by might nor by power but by my spirit says the Lord Almighty." [00:01:41]
"One tiny example of a tiny habit this is from The Book of Leviticus and the old chapter in the Old Testament uh chapter 19 there's a verse that says rise in the presence of the Aged, respect the elderly Revere the Lord I am your God. What a different Society our often youth worshiping age-fearing society would be if we just cultivated that one Habit to stand to rise in the presence of the elderly." [00:03:15]
"Do not despise the day of small things. We often dismiss Smalls changes because they don't seem to matter very much in the moment. If you save a little money now you're still not a millionaire if you go to the gym three days in a row you're still out of shape if you study Mandarin an hour tonight you still haven't learned the language." [00:04:49]
"Unfortunately the slow pace of transformation also makes it easy to let a bad habit slide. If you eat an unhealthy meal today the scale doesn't move much if you work late tonight and ignore your family they'll forgive you if you procrastinate and put your project off until tomorrow that'll usually be time to finish it later." [00:05:14]
"Habits are like the atoms of Our Lives. Each one is a fundamental unit that contributes to your overall Improvement. At first these tiny routines seem insignificant don't despise the day of small things but soon they build on each other and fuel bigger wins that multiply to a degree that far outweighs the cost of their initial investment." [00:06:00]
"BJ Foggs writes about how always our behaviors will be the interaction of motivation, how much do I want to do it, ability, how hard or easy is it to do, and then the presence of a prompt. And so what I found for myself was if again you think about this think about this little graph right here whether or not something becomes a habit depends on how high or low is my motivation and how easy or hard is it to do." [00:06:56]
"Start small, see the barrier is grandiosity. I want to change everything I want to be a completely different person and have that happen overnight and that lacks humility it lacks reality humility is always just simply the recognition of reality so start small grandiosity will kill me, get wins." [00:08:10]
"Self-condemnation although the evil one will tell you there's something spiritual or moral about that self-condemnation is not an adequate fuel for life and so to just simply look at my life the way that a scientist would in a laboratory and say what works and if this didn't work then I'll try something different." [00:09:48]
"Here's a small thing for you today, in Psalm 143 this almost says I meditate on all on uh the days gone by I consider your works I remember all that your hands have done I stretch out my hands to you. There is a lawyer Bob Goff and he has one rule for his clients when they're in a deposition a case that could be tense and easily lead to defensiveness." [00:10:15]
"God I reflect on the work of your hands I receive from you what you have to give me I will live today as I remember it right now with open Palms of gratitude and humility so that I can become someone who loves you and others because love is habit performing." [00:11:45]
"Hi I'm Tim thanks for joining us you mean so much to us as a community and we hope that this series helps you build some new habits in your life to help you grow spiritually one day at a time and we want to hear from you throughout the series if you have questions you can put them in the comment box wherever you're watching or you can email us or text us." [00:12:29]
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