This post is by Cindy Chen.
It is easy to come into the new year and attempt to be a whole new you. But few changes can take place when we don’t take into account who we are and where we are in this season.
It’s easy to be influenced to want to make big sweeping changes, to revamp our whole lives, whole homes, and whole diets. But it’s not easy to maintain these changes if we don’t first start where we are.
If I decided to run a mile every day, before I was consistently walking a mile a day, I would hit a wall.
If I decided to write 1000 words a day when I was barely writing 200 a day, I would be discouraged when words won’t come.
If I decided to cut out all carbohydrates before I had good recipes that don’t use excessive carbs, I would be ordering take out before I knew it.
If I decided to spend more time investing in what matters to me, but kept the same breakneck schedule, I would be resentful.
Evaluating where we are starting is a vital beginning before we plan for next steps.
About two years ago, I was not a person who ran. But I started walking a mile or two in my neighborhood. Then I started moving a little more quickly. Then I joined a gym to learn how to build strength so I wouldn’t injure myself–because I’ve injured myself. Then I started running. I struggled, my breathing was labored, my feet were tired, my muscles quaked. Now I’m planning and training toward a half marathon. That was not even a dream in my head when I started to walk–I just wanted to move, be active, and maybe build up to jogging, because some people enjoy that. I had to start where I was, and build from there. There’s no way I could have said to myself, “I want to run 10 miles at a time, for fun.” That sounded like torment.
These are physical goals, but what about less measurable goals, like being more present with family, memorizing scripture, or having more patience? Taking a bit of time to consider our strengths, weaknesses, and preferences will help shape how we view our goals and daily progress.
Scripture tells me what kind of person I am. It reminds me that I am a child of God (1 John 3:1), that I am a saint, holy, and loved (see Ephesians 1), and have everything necessary to live and obey (2 Peter 1:3). It also reminds me of where I came from: darkness, sin, and a long list of unattractive traits. But we are no longer!
James 1:23-25 says that we can forget quickly who we are and we need to keep our hearts attentive to scripture and apply it daily to remind ourselves of who we actually are.
If I regularly remind myself that I am holy and loved, how I respond to conflict and misunderstanding will be different than when I forget and start reacting out of fear and feeling ashamed.
When I remember that God has given me everything I need for life and godliness, by the Holy Spirit within me, including patience and kindness, then perhaps I can get my kids ready for school in the morning with grace and peace, rather than rushing and yelling.
When I remind my heart that God has called me to accomplish certain things, then it is not as hard to make the daily choices to obey, and trust Him for the outcome, even when it is far away and seems monumental.
Baby steps toward cultivating fruit will produce a harvest. But fruit-growing is ridiculously long. It involves preparing, sowing, watering, tending, weeding, and lots and lots of waiting. Obsessing will not grow fruit, but consistency in light, water, and soil–I’d like to liken them to the word, prayer, and the grounding effect of the people we live and work with–will produce fruit.
Remembering the truth about who we are, and having perspective on where we are in a process, will enable us to make the choices and take the actions that will produce the lasting changes, and which will solidify and prove who we are.
Cindy Chen lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband and 4 kids. She is a preschool teacher, writer, serves in her church’s children's ministry and small group. She’s trying not to make running her entire personality.
Photo by Miguel A Amutio on Unsplash
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