🔥 Day 23: Small Steps, Big Change

The Lie: Big change is impossible
The Truth Bomb: Big change starts with small steps

Read The Daily:
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5

Post by Eric Maloney

At 25, I weighed 365 lbs. I’d struggled with my weight for most of my life, bouncing between crash diets and old habits, each time ending up a little heavier than before. I worked late nights, ate poorly, and rarely moved my body. The idea of losing weight felt impossible—every attempt only seemed to confirm that lasting change was out of reach. But in 2010, I finally said enough was enough. Funny enough, it all started with a late-night infomercial. Turns out staying up too late was both bad and good for me—I was probably scarfing down a calzone when Tony Horton and his P90X promo caught my attention. As it turns out though, P90X actually works!

I didn’t overhaul my entire life overnight, but I did commit to small, consistent changes. I started by eating simple, healthier meals and following the workout program. Day by day, choice by choice, those small steps added up. After 90 days, I wasn’t just physically healthier—I had built new habits and a mindset that carried me forward.

Now, over a decade later, I’m 170 lbs lighter than when I started that journey. Staying healthy isn’t always easy at 40—motivation wavers, and my body isn’t as forgiving—but I keep choosing those small steps because I’ve seen what’s possible when you stay consistent.

Big change isn’t about perfection or instant results—it’s about faithfulness in the small things

In John 15, Jesus reminds us to abide in Him, the true vine, because lasting fruit comes from staying connected. The same is true in our lives. Transformation starts with small, faithful steps—whether in your health, your relationships, or your faith. Don’t believe the lie that change is out of reach. Trust God with the process, take the next step, and watch how He works.

Prayer for the Day

God what are you  showing me?  What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
Make sure you complete the reading or comment today.

Read The New Testament In A Year

4 x 6 Plan | Read: John 8:12-30 & Galatians 5:1-15

Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” The Pharisees replied, “You are making those claims about yourself! Such testimony is not valid.” Jesus told them, “These claims are valid even though I make them about myself. For I know where I came from and where I am going, but you don’t know this about me. You judge me by human standards, but I do not judge anyone. And if I did, my judgment would be correct in every respect because I am not alone. The Father who sent me is with me. Your own law says that if two people agree about something, their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness, and my Father who sent me is the other.” “Where is your father?” they asked. Jesus answered, “Since you don’t know who I am, you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come. Later Jesus said to them again, “I am going away. You will search for me but will die in your sin. You cannot come where I am going.” The people asked, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What does he mean, ‘You cannot come where I am going’?” Jesus continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I AM who I claim to be, you will die in your sins.” “Who are you?” they demanded. Jesus replied, “The one I have always claimed to be. I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won’t. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful.” But they still didn’t understand that he was talking about his Father. So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I AM he. I do nothing on my own but say only what the Father taught me. And the one who sent me is with me—he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him.” Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.   John 8:12-30

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision to make you right with God, then Christ will be of no benefit to you. I’ll say it again. If you are trying to find favor with God by being circumcised, you must obey every regulation in the whole law of Moses. For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us. For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there is no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love. You were running the race so well. Who has held you back from following the truth? It certainly isn’t God, for he is the one who called you to freedom. This false teaching is like a little yeast that spreads through the whole batch of dough! I am trusting the Lord to keep you from believing false teachings. God will judge that person, whoever he is, who has been confusing you. Dear brothers and sisters, if I were still preaching that you must be circumcised—as some say I do—why am I still being persecuted? If I were no longer preaching salvation through the cross of Christ, no one would be offended. I just wish that those troublemakers who want to mutilate you by circumcision would mutilate themselves. For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.  Galatians 5:1-15

Read More – Bible Project Overviews: John, Galatians