As you work to make one or many areas of your life better, there is a powerful principle you can use called “The Consistency Effect,” which is simply, “Small things done consistently, over time, lead to big things.” Commitment is good; it can get you to the starting line. It can set your intention. It can get you through January. But consistency will get you to July, September, and next December. You can change your life with small, consistent steps in the right direction.
But that’s not all of it. If all you do is say you’re going to commit to change, at some point your strength will run out. That’s why we all start January strong, but we eventually falter. So the next point to remember is that you don’t have to take those small steps in your own strength. The good news—in fact the great news—is that God wants to help you make this year better than last year! He wants to give you strength so you can improve and be consistent.
How do you tap into the strength of God? Paul wrote to the church in Corinth saying, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” What does that mean? He is saying he discovered how to access the strength of God. And if we can figure this out, we will see it’s an amazing gift from our heavenly Father.
Second Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) says, “But he said to me, ’My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” The first step to tapping into the strength of God is admitting your weaknesses. You don’t have to hide them. Share them! Boast in them! God isn’t disappointed in your weaknesses; he wants to help you. Just admitting your weaknesses is a huge first step. We will never believe that God’s grace is sufficient until we believe that we are insufficient.
And that’s the memo.
By Jeff Henderson
