Where in your life do you struggle with commitment? Take a pen and paper and write down recent examples. 

E.g. Do you respond with a ‘maybe’ to a Facebook event (or not respond at all)? Say ’no’ as your default when someone asks for help? Delay next steps on a project when you have everything you need? Do you find yourself checking out from responsibility with entertainment, social media or other forms of escape?

There are a number of things that may lie beneath our struggle. These questions that may help pinpoint the issue for you: 

• Are you wanting to keep your options open? I.e. a fear of missing out?
• Are you too committed to your own comfort? Is ‘me time’ is too important?
• Are you afraid of failure?
• Are you confused about what matters?
• Are there things you’re don’t’ want to face leading you to patterns of escape?

Jot down where you think your heart may be hijacked things that get in the way of what God wants for you.

Often we feel limited by our past track record. “I’ve been unreliable in the past. I’ve got no hope for change!”

But God says ‘not so’. In Jesus he gives us new potential. “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Pet. 1:3). We’re not limited by our track record. By God’a Spirit we have new resources to address our lack of commitment.

Camp out in 2 Peter 1:3-11. What are some small steps you can take to build the character Peter describes in v5-6 as you look forward to Jesus’ welcome?

Pour out your heart to God. Tell him about where you feel unreliable. Tell him about your thoughts on why you struggle in this way. Tell him about how it impacts you and those around you. Ask his forgiveness for ways that your heart’s strayed from him. Thank him for new potential for change in Christ. Ask him for help to put into practice the small steps you’ve nutted out.

Find another Christian brother or sister who you can share your commitment struggle with. Let them in on this process that you’ve started. Ask them for feedback on the small steps you’re considering. Do they have any input that might help?Ask them to pray with you and keep the conversation going as you work out patterns of change.