Over the past two years, I have been learning about weight loss. It started with a simple commitment to lose weight, and I was able to drop 75 pounds in 6 months. I remained steady for the following year. Then in the last six months, I have gained some of it back with Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, vacation, and birthday.

Last week, I stepped on the scale, and I have put back on a little over 20 pounds. So I committed to losing it again. That was last Monday morning.

Over the last week, I have eaten better, walked, and tried to get into a routine again. Then I stepped on the scale yesterday to see I had lost 1.6 pounds. I admit I was a little disappointed as I was hoping for three.

As the day wore on, I began to think about it more deeply. The problem with weight loss of only a pound or two is that no one notices. I don’t look or feel different. My clothes are still tight, and the fat is still noticeable. My mind plays this trick on me and tells me that I am not making enough progress, so I should quit.

The truth is that this single pound represents more than just a slight weight loss. It is a sign of a lifestyle change from the past six months. I have stopped gaining and started going the right direction. It is a small physical demonstration of my life heading down a new and better path. If I keep doing the activities of the past week, I will achieve my goals in less than five months.

This reality is true of all habits, including spiritual ones. Many people want to read the Bible through the year, or they want to pray more, or they want to serve others selflessly. Then they make an attempt one week. They see only a tiny result or possibly none. They convince themselves it is not worth the time and energy, so they quit.

Small steps in the right direction add up. All weight loss starts with losing a single pound.