Do You Love To Be “All Done”?

With the beginning of a new year, we often think of turning over a new leaf or raking all the leaves and putting them into a huge bag. When all done, we feel great. What a sense of accomplishment. That big pile is no longer nagging us.

What we might not recognize is a little whisper saying, “I’m so glad I’ll never have to do that again. All done!” We can’t quite identify this message of “all of nothing.” Our heart longs for: “It’s all taken care of and I’ll never have to do it again.”

There are many ways that message can creep into our thinking. Yet the idea can surface with statements like,

• I’ll never get angry again
• I’ll always show love toward that person who is unlovable
• I’ll never be discontent again
• I’ll always be joyful in every circumstance
• I’ll have my devotions every day.

It’s easy to think that such determination will bring us success—even that it’s the only way we’ll improve our coming year. We may think God demands such commitments. But have you noticed that when we can’t follow through, we get discouraged and give up? Even thinking God has given up on us also? Suddenly, there are the last “hold out” leaves falling to the ground.

The good news is that God is more patient than we think. And His patience allows us to grow in improving our lives “little by little.” He’s not impatient with us when it takes us time to overcome our struggles. Even when more “spiritual leaves” show up.

I Timothy 4:15 tells us, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.” Vine’s Biblical Dictionary says the Greek word “progress” is the idea of a pioneer cutting his way through the brushwood.

How does the pioneer do that? Little by little. He doesn’t have a mile-wide ax to cut down a swath big enough for building his house the next day. Instead, he takes one step and takes one chop in the brushwood with his ax. He progresses one step and chop at a time.

That’s the kind of “progress” the Apostle Paul is encouraging Timothy to have. Step by step. Chop by chop. Little by little. Because there will always be falling leaves.

One of the principles I write about and speak about to give the biblical perspective of this is what I call “The 1% Principle.” Instead of expecting or trying to make plans for 100% perfection, we make small goals—like 1% growth.

So let’s apply that to the steps we mentioned above.

• I’ll never get angry again becomes I’ll concentrate on the time of day I often get angry and make changes that will support patience.
• I’ll always show love toward that person who is unlovable becomes I’ll find one thing I actually like about them.
• I’ll never be discontent again becomes I’ll find one thing to be satisfied about right now.
• I’ll always be joyful in every circumstance becomes I’ll find one thing to appreciate right now.
• I’ll have my devotions every day becomes I’ll have my devotions three times this week.

Such thinking in the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to make more progress because we’ll be persistent rather than get discouraged and give up.

Reaching a 1% goal encourages us and empowers us to continue trusting in God for the progress He desires. And we’ll give Him the glory for the progress we’re making rather than pour contempt on ourselves because we haven’t reached perfection.

What 1% goal does God want you to make? I believe you’ll make greater progress rather than forming unrealistic expectations.

Just remember that pioneer’s ax when you think of improving your life!