Small Things.

A recent article from Bicycling Magazine focuses on eleven quick and simple changes that can positively affect one's bicycling life. The article suggests that small things--the things one might think are quite insignificant, that take really little time at all, that one can easily overlook--pay big dividends.

Like drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning.

One might not think that drinking a glass of H2O at first wake is a big deal. One might even be excused in thinking that a morning glass of water has less importance for one's bicycling. But such a small thing done regularly might make all the difference.

I believe it is no different for one's faith life and discipleship to Jesus--especially in the home.

Small things make a big difference.

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It can be as simple as taking three short minutes in the morning to read a Scripture and say a prayer together with those in your home. Who doesn't have three minutes? Scripture and prayer, over time, lay an important foundation for one's life of discipleship. There's a great book called Too Busy Not to Pray, by Bill Hybels. When life gets busy, it's all the more important that we take time to ground our lives in God. It's a small thing, really to read and pray--just a few short minutes. But if this small thing becomes a regular thing in your household, you're tilling the soil for the life of the Spirit to take root. It's like drinking a glass of water in the morning--you're priming for your day to be a day given to God. If you're not sure where to start for this, you can use our IOLBC app, sign up for one of our tracks, and you'll get daily Bible passages and thoughts for reflection.

Another small thing might be saying a blessing over your kids and spouse. This used to be a common practice, especially for the early church. For some reason, we've lost this practice, or given it over to the pastor. You could do this at night before bed. Maybe do it in the morning, right after sharing Scripture and a prayer before people leave the house. Maybe do it at both times. It might take 30 seconds to do this. Thirty seconds. That's the time of a commercial. Don't know what to say? Here's the classic one from Numbers 6:22-26:

 
The Lord bless you and protect you. 

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.  

The Lord lift up his face to you and grant you peace.

Maybe pick from Paul's many blessings in his letters. It can be that simple. Saying a blessing may seem like a small thing. When it becomes a regular thing, it can be transformative for how we and those in our home look at the day.

Silence. Silence is an old, old Christian discipline. Throughout Scripture God asks God's people to be still and silent. The whole Sabbath Day concept is about silence and stillness; about ceasing from our striving. It's about letting God be God, which often happens in silence and stillness. Too often our days lack silence and stillness. But if you can work silence into your day, this small change can have big effects. It's a time for us to stop moving, talking, working, striving, or connecting and a time for God to speak, for the Spirit to move and breathe.

Make silence a small practice with big results. Start with taking five minutes a day. It's usually best done with a Scripture or prayer in mind. You can take time to reflect on the gifts of God in your day, to remember your identity as one being made new in Christ, or to pause and calm your spirit in the midst of chaos, reminding yourself that the God who dwells in us is the God who brought beauty and order out of darkness and chaos, the God who brings life and hope out of death and hopelessness.

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These are small changes to your schedule. Really, these three things might take up a total of ten minutes out of your schedule. Friends, that ain't much.

Our lives are made up of multiple patterns of small things we do (or don't do). The patterns of small things shape the big thing of living life. The small things have great power to be formative of your time, your mentality, and your emotional health. I have a feeling once you begin adopting small spiritual practices like these, you'll happily let them take up more of your time and shape life in your home.

Are there other small things that have resulted in big changes in the life of faith and discipleship in your home?