Line Upon Line
“For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:”Isaiah 28:10 (KJV)
If you want to get up earlier, the usual plan is to set the alarm for five tomorrow when you normally get up at eight. It lasts about two days. Then you are back where you started, and a little more discouraged.
A better way is to move fifteen minutes at a time. Fifteen minutes earlier this week, fifteen more next week. It is like learning to lift: you start with the bar before you load the plates. Waking early is a muscle that grows slowly.
That is how God tends to grow us too. Isaiah describes his teaching like this: “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.” Not everything at once. A little, then a little more.
Whatever habit you want to build, start smaller than you think you need to. Then add a line. Then another. Small steps you keep will take you further than big leaps you abandon.
Read it yourself
Read Isaiah 28:9–13. Who does Isaiah say God will teach knowledge to?
What habit have you tried to change all at once? What would a fifteen-minute first step look like?
Lord, grow me line upon line. Give me patience with small steps and faithfulness to keep taking them. Amen.