Tiny changes can make a big difference. A plane headed from Dallas to New York might end up in Baltimore if its heading shifts just a couple degrees.

When it comes to the direction of our life, it’s often small shifts that change our course altogether. Usually this happens without us realizing: Slowly our screentime creeps upward month by month, our sugar intake increases, our effort in our marriage lags. After a few years, the impact is enormous.

At the turn of the year, we have a chance to make a positive, intentional change. The problem is that we grow impatient: we set ambitious goals and get frustrated because we don’t see any immediate progress.

But it’s the tiny improvements we make that are likely to have the greatest impact in the long run. This week, I challenge you to consider three small life changes that could have an outsized impact in your life.

To begin with, devote the first moments of your day to Bible reading, meditation, and prayer. I know I’ve already said this, but what have you done about it? Make a commitment and refuse to give up! Read through the New Testament this year or try to complete the whole Bible, memorize one verse per week or start your day with a 15 minute devotional.

Second—and this stacks right alongside your daily quiet time with the Lord—take a few minutes to pray specifically for the individuals on your Operation Andrew list. In case you missed it, Operation Andrew started this past Sunday. It’s a simple, church-wide project that consists of seven steps. Step one is simple: write down the names of ten individuals who need Christ and pray for them every day. You’d be amazed how God can use this one habit to change lives! Many believers have testified that God has used their prayers to bring an individual to Christ. What a privilege to be a part of God’s work to save the nations!

Third, I challenge you to make it a habit to arrive at church each Sunday by 9:30am so you can participate in an Equipping Class, Sunday School, or CG.

You have to admit: This one really is doable. It simply requires waking up and getting ready to leave the house on time. You can do it! Dozens of individuals and families—even those with very young children—do it every week.

Why would you do this? Because your church wants to bless you, equip you, pour into your life. Take the next several weeks for example. We have two fantastic Equipping Classes starting this Sunday: “God Owns It All” (taught by Matt Hight), a study of the Bible’s teaching on money and possessions, and “Made to Multiply” (taught by Daniel McRee), designed to equip you to share your faith and make disciples. Register in advance for these classes so you can best prepare.

Go ahead, do it now!

Understand: God has a plan to use you for His glory and to make a difference in the world. Yes, you! He has “good works that he prepared beforehand” for you to complete in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:10). Don’t you want to step into what God has for you? Don’t you want to leave a legacy of great faith and obedience for your children and for others in your circle of influence?

Well, that process doesn’t always involve big, dramatic swings in behavior or lifestyle. Sometimes, the littlest change can make the biggest difference over time.

A couple of Sunday ago, I offered five suggestions of how to begin a habit of daily time with God. But these “tips” apply to any new spiritual habit:

1. Find a buddy. Tell an elder or someone in your CG what you’re planning to do, and ask for their encouragement and help.
2. Set a specific time and place. “I want to grow in my relationship with God” is too broad. If you really want that, then be specific! These three small life changes are just the sort of specific change you can implement right away.
3. Remove distractions. What’s getting in the way? Is it an expectation that you’ll stay up late on Saturday? Is it the fact that you’ve heard of a “better” way to do evangelism (that you never get around to doing)? Get rid of whatever stands in the way!
4. Have a plan. Talk to your spouse. Make a decision. Stick with it.
5. Be brave. Don’t be afraid of failing and don’t be afraid of what others will think. Have the courage to make a commitment and keep chasing it, no matter how many times you drop the ball!