Small Beginnings

In "Atomic Habits," James Clear highlights the British Cycling team's improvement in 2003 under Dave Brailsford's leadership. Brailsford introduced the "aggregation of marginal gains," focusing on small, incremental improvements in various aspects of performance. These tiny changes led to significant results, transforming the team's performance. Before this approach, British Cycling had won only one Olympic medal in 1908. By making small improvements in bike design, training methods, and riders' sleep and nutrition, in just five years, the British Cycling Team won and astounding 60 percent of the gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, overcoming 110 years of losses. They would go one to win five Tour De France victories in six years.

What works for a cycling works for people.

But for too many of us, we see our spiritual lives as a string of failures - 110 years of losses. To be a true disciple of Jesus seems as far off as the British Cycling team winning the Olympic Gold medal. I don’t go to church enough. I don’t pray or read my Bible every day. I don’t like small groups. I don’t go to the midweek prayer meeting. I certainly don’t give enough money. And those are just the small things! My marriage isn’t working very well. My kids are a disaster. I think I’m gonna lose my job. I got too many bad habits and not enough good ones. I know I’m supposed to be more like Jesus, but I’m not even close! I need a major course correction.

But the major course correction has already happened.

You see, when we repent and are saved, it means that we had a change of mind. We have turned and are going in another direction. Once we were following our own thinking and direction and now, we are following Jesus. And once that major course correction has happened, we don’t need to do it again. That trajectory has already been set. When Jesus said “It is finished” he meant it.

But we still need some course correction. We need to replace our bad habits with good ones. And habits, whether good or bad, always start with a small decision. If I’m going to save money, I must first decide to spend it more wisely. Maybe I don’t need that 10-dollar cup of coffee. Or if I’m going to hit the gym, I must first decide to put on my workout clothes and drink my pre-workout drink.

So don’t worry so much about winning the Tour De France. Don’t worry about being that “super” Christian who always says the right thing, prays the right way, or checks off all the little spiritual boxes. Just make those small decision that we are faced with every day to say yes to Jesus. Those little decisions will lead to good habits. Which will lead to bigger and better habits. And soon, maybe sooner than you think, you’ll start winning some gold medals.

The Bible says that we are not to despise small beginnings because God rejoices when the work is done.