What changes would you like to see this week?
You see a shift in the workplace that could make a remarkable difference. Your marriage has the opportunity to grow to the next level. You desire your children to become who Jesus has created them to be. You pray and hope for your small group to deeper in relationships with God and each other this year.
No matter the relationships or place that you would like to see change, that process takes more time than we would want to admit. Old habits die hard. At times, people around us would rather stay in the same place than moving forward. So, what can you do?
My daughter Hayley and I started a new activity. I go to shoot a mini basketball and start quoting the lines from the movie, The Pistol about Pete Maravich, “Fingertip control, backspin, follow-through…” Sometimes she will watch me and laugh, and other times she will distract herself by playing with other toys.
During the first couple times, I would give her the ball, and she would gnaw on it. I gave her the ball last week like we usually do. She started to take her right hand in a semi shooting formation with her left hand to guide it and then throwing the ball. Perhaps, like many first time parents, I’m seeing what I hope to see. Or perhaps, even at this young age, she has started to pick up on the technique of shooting a basketball.
Don’t miss this. The change you hope to see will call you to invest in two ways: modeling and consistency.
Often, when we talk about change, it comes across as ideas. We can argue with persuasion. We can challenge the status quo. We can even provide a vision for the future. But, if the people around you don’t see you invest, the subtle critique will sound like this, “If the change you want will work so well, why don’t you do it yourself?”
Paul, writing to the church in Philippi says this about modeling:
Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do. (Philippians 3:17)
Consider that verse for a moment. The most life-changing teaching comes not just from instruction, but modeling consistently over time. That means…
If you want date nights for your marriage, start planning and scheduling them on the calendar.
If you want your kids to know Jesus, talk with them about what they learned at church, read the Bible together, and pray.
If you hope your job would recognize the power of social media, begin posting regularly on your accounts.
If you want your small group to go deeper, prepare to share more about how God’s shaping your heart.
Changes happen when we invest in modeling consistently. It takes times. People may not notice right away. Ultimately, Philippians 3:17 points back to Jesus as the ultimate model. The Gospel is the Good News of His death and resurrection. In that process of life-change for you, He will call to take steps of faith. They often look like modeling and consistency.
Today, move beyond the ideas of change. How can you model consistently the changes you hope to see? Ask God the motivation for those changes and what needs to change in you.
Photo by Alexis Brown