Back in the day before typing with your thumbs on a handheld device was the norm, I was forced to take a high school typing class. Can you imagine?

I remember sitting in a classroom with something called a typewriter. If memory serves, we didn’t even have letters on the keys on those teaching devices. We were expected to type without looking at the keys.

At the time, it felt ridiculous. But looking back, it’s amazing how little things can make a big difference.

I remember sitting at the typewriter for what seemed like an eternity, doing what felt like the silliest little exercise. First, with our left hand, we would type AQ, AW, AE, AR, AT. Then SQ, SW, SE, SR, ST. Next, DQ, DW, DE, DR, DT. Finally, FQ, FW, FE, FR, FT.

Then we’d switch to the right hand and repeat similar exercises. On and on it went, day after day. Not for a week or two, but for months. It was monotonous and seemingly pointless.

And then one day, the teacher stood at the front of the class and said, “Today, you are going to type sentences.”

I thought she was out of her mind. All I could type with any certainty was FT—at least, that’s what it felt like.

But to my surprise, as I started pecking away at that typewriter, something amazing happened. Words began to form! Then sentences. Then paragraphs. Before I knew it, I was typing—really typing!

Those silly little exercises weren’t silly or little after all. They had been teaching me discipline, and through a system, a habit was created. They taught me the skill of touch typing. No hunt and peck for me.

We’ve been in a sermon series called "The Habit Shift," talking about the importance of starting small, creating a system, and working that system to build habits—habits that help us become all that God has called us to be.

Never underestimate how God might start something big, something special, through something very small.

We can’t possibly imagine all God can do through one small act of obedience. As Zechariah 4:10 says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.”