Have you ever tried just keeping up with all the instructions given in church on Sunday mornings.

I mean this week eight steps to healthy relationships. Next week five steps to happiness. Next six steps to job success. No wonder we’re exhausted.

Yet that isn’t how life was meant to be. God instead offers to change us into the person we really want to be so we can live the life we dream of. And he does it in his power from the inside.

But how?

The apostle Paul writes, “It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread.”*

It comes down to focus.

We can focus on all the efforts we need to make. Or we can focus on the life changing power of God working within us.

We can try to follow a new set of rules each week. Or we can rest in the love God has for us even as we are. Then trust he’s changing us into the person we really want to be.

We can force those changes. Or realize it takes a lifetime and enjoy the journey.

Then be surprised as we become the person we really want to be.

*Galatians 5:9 (MSG)

Sometimes I can grow pretty frustrated with myself. I know the kind of person I’d like to be when I grow up and frankly way too often I fall short. And that leaves me a bit discouraged at times.

Yet, I also remember that this transformation business is an inside job. It’s not something I do by grinding out strict personal disciplines as much as trusting God to work the changes.

I was reminded of that when I read this parable Jesus told.

“The Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”*

Frankly, that gives me hope because I realize, like yeast, the new life that came into me permeates me. It works changing me from the inside. Bringing light where there’s darkness.

This parable reminds me of one more thing also. This change takes time. Yeast leavens bread but not instantaneously.

So when I grow discouraged it helps to remember God isn’t finished with me yet. The process continues. And my life keeps getting better and better.

*Matthew 13:3 (NLT)

When I first entered into my relationship with God I came with a lot of baggage from my previous life style. My life didn’t change all at once. Rather it changed very slowly often imperceptively.

In fact to this day, decades later, I still wrestle with some of the same issues. Just ask my wife.

I’ve watched this pattern over and over in the lives of others as well. Their lives truly change but they carry over a lot of bad habits sometimes for a lifetime.

I see a common response from well meaning popular churches.

The pastor preaches on five things to do to fix your marriage. Then next week seven steps to further your career. Then next three steps to stop worrying.

But the problem is we’re trying to fix our lives from the outside in our own power. And frankly it just doesn’t work very well. It can drift into legalism. And sometimes people grow so discouraged they give up thinking, “I just do it all.”

Yet, the good news is God is in the business of changing us from the inside. And when we simply rest in his power it allows him to do just that.