I had trouble getting out of bed for a few months.
I would set the alarm for 6:30 every night, but when it rang in the morning I would reach over, shut it off, and remain in bed.
On a good day I would get up after a little while, by 6:45 or so.
On a "bad day" I would lie there, sleeping off and on until 8 or even 9:00. It wasn't that I was super tired. I got to bed at a reasonable time. I didn't feel especially depressed, but I just couldn't seem to get up.
I tried to figure out if I was dreading something and how I could change my thoughts so I was more excited about getting up.
I gave myself stern pep talks the night before about how important it was to get out of bed and get the day started.
Nothing worked. My rising time was still sporadic and I felt like a failure because I couldn't seem to do what I said I wanted to do.
Finally, I changed one little thing and I have rolled out of bed for ten days straight at 6:30 a.m.
I moved my alarm clock to the far side of my bedside table.
Just that two feet change caused me to move enough so that I've gotten up every single day. I can't just reach out and turn off the alarm anymore. I have to stretch over and my feet touch the floor and I'm up.
I started thinking about other situations that might be changed by one little thing.
You don't read your Bible as often as you say you want to? Put it beside your place at the breakfast table or on the kitchen counter so you can open it and read a few verses as you eat or while you're waiting for something to cook. One little thing.
You feel like your relationship with a parent or a child or a sibling isn't as close as you'd like? Make a note on the calendar to call that person once a week instead of waiting until you think of it. One little thing.
You're tired of the clutter getting in your way in your home? Fill a box with items you no longer need or use and put it in the car so you can drop it off at Goodwill the next time you go that way. One little thing.
You never seem to get any closer to accomplishing your dreams or goals? Write down as much as you can about all of the steps necessary to complete the project and then write the first small step on your calendar. One little thing.
As we keep doing one little thing at a time, those little things will add up and soon we'll be in the habit of getting up on time, reading our bible regularly, having great relationships, keeping our lives free of clutter, and accomplishing our goals.
It all starts with one little thing.
"Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.[One little thing that led to the man's healing]" (John 5:8 NIV - brackets mine)
Do you have problems or frustrations that keep you stuck? How can focusing on God help you find one little thing you can do to get unstuck?
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