The Power to Change
Mastering the Habits That Matter Most
Book Edition Details
Summary
Caught in the relentless loop of yearning for change yet feeling powerless to achieve it? Craig Groeschel, with profound insights drawn from both scripture and psychology, offers a transformative guide in "The Power to Change." This isn't just a book; it's a lifeline for those desperate to break free from the binds of stagnation. Through compelling real-life narratives and strategic exercises, Groeschel reveals the art of cultivating enduring change in your habits, relationships, and mindset. Whether you're battling addiction, seeking financial freedom, or longing for spiritual renewal, these time-tested strategies promise not only to alter your life but to align it with your highest potential. Prepare to redefine your path and embrace the life you've always aspired to live.
Introduction
Have you ever found yourself caught in that maddening cycle where you desperately want to change something about your life, but despite your best efforts, you keep falling back into the same old patterns? You're not alone in this struggle. The gap between who we are and who we want to become often feels insurmountable, leaving us frustrated and questioning our ability to truly transform. The truth is, lasting change doesn't happen through sheer willpower or good intentions alone. It requires a fundamental shift in how we approach transformation itself. Real change begins not with what we do, but with who we believe ourselves to be. When we understand that our identity drives our behavior, we unlock the secret to sustainable transformation. This journey toward meaningful change isn't about perfection or overnight miracles. It's about discovering the power that's already available to us and learning to access it through strategic habits that align with our deepest values and God-given potential. Every small decision we make today is shaping the person we're becoming tomorrow, and that's both the challenge and the tremendous opportunity before us.
Focus on Who, Not Do
The foundation of lasting change lies in understanding a profound truth that most people miss entirely. You do what you do because of what you think of you. This isn't just a clever phrase, it's the key that unlocks transformation in every area of life. Consider Craig's experience as a young pastor when a group of teenagers gathered in his church parking lot for a fight. Initially excited to watch the drama unfold, both he and his colleague rushed outside yelling "Fight! Fight!" But the moment they stepped into that parking lot, everything changed. Despite their curiosity and the entertainment value, they immediately shifted to "Break it up! Break it up!" Why? Because their actions were driven not by their momentary desires, but by their core identity as pastors, Christians, and peacemakers. This same principle was at work when Craig's wife Amy transformed from an average student to a straight-A performer, simply because someone helped her see her true intelligence. Her grades didn't change because she suddenly became smarter, they changed because her belief about herself shifted. When she embraced a new identity as an intelligent person, her behaviors naturally aligned with that truth. The practical application is revolutionary. Instead of trying to modify your behavior through sheer effort, begin by examining and reshaping your self-concept. Start each day by reminding yourself who you truly are in God's eyes, not who your past mistakes or current struggles suggest you might be. When facing temptation or opportunity, ask yourself not "What should I do?" but "What would someone with my true identity do in this situation?" Remember, you are not defined by your worst moments or your current limitations. You are who God says you are, and that identity should be the driving force behind every decision you make.
Train, Don't Just Try
The difference between those who achieve lasting change and those who remain stuck isn't talent, luck, or circumstances. It's the distinction between trying and training. Trying is attempting to do the right thing through effort in the moment, while training is developing strategic habits that prepare you to succeed when that moment arrives. Paul understood this principle when he wrote about athletes who "go into strict training." These competitors didn't just show up on game day hoping their natural ability would carry them through. They subjected themselves to rigorous, daily preparation that often included extreme measures. Ancient athletes trained so intensely that one philosopher described their regimen as involving "thirst and broiling heat and swallowing handfuls of sand." The power of training becomes clear when we consider Daniel's extraordinary life. His success didn't come from lucky breaks or exceptional circumstances. Daniel had established a habit of praying three times daily, long before the crisis that made him famous. When King Darius outlawed prayer, Daniel simply continued his established routine. His "sudden" courage in the face of the lions' den wasn't sudden at all, it was the natural outcome of years of spiritual training. To shift from trying to training, identify the strategic habits that will equip you for success in your area of desired change. If you want a stronger marriage, don't just try harder to be loving in difficult moments. Instead, establish daily habits like praying together, expressing gratitude, or having meaningful conversations. If you're battling an addiction, don't rely on willpower alone in moments of temptation. Create systems that remove triggers and establish accountability relationships. Training requires patience because the benefits aren't immediately visible, but it's the only approach that creates lasting transformation. Start small, stay consistent, and trust that your daily disciplines are preparing you for victory in ways you can't yet see.
Change Through Habits, Not Hope
Your life today is largely the product of habits you may not even recognize as habits. Research shows that 40 percent of our daily actions are automatic responses rather than conscious decisions. This means that who you are and where you're going is being shaped more by routine than by intention. Craig discovered the transformative power of small habits when he committed to flossing his teeth daily. This seemingly insignificant decision became his "keystone habit" because it established his identity as a disciplined person. That single habit created momentum for dozens of other positive changes over the following decades, from daily Bible reading to regular exercise to financial discipline. What appeared to be just dental hygiene was actually the first domino in a chain reaction of transformation. The beauty of habit-based change lies in its sustainability. Hope is passive and unpredictable, but habits are active and reliable. When you establish the right habits, change becomes inevitable rather than hopeful. Daniel's three-times-daily prayer wasn't about hoping to be close to God, it was a systematic approach that guaranteed spiritual growth and prepared him for every challenge he would face. To harness the power of habits, start by identifying one small behavior that aligns with who you want to become. Make it so easy that you can't fail, so obvious that you can't forget, and so attractive that you want to do it. Stack this new habit onto something you already do automatically, like having coffee or brushing your teeth. Focus on consistency over perfection, knowing that every repetition is strengthening neural pathways and reshaping your identity. The goal isn't to do everything perfectly, but to show up consistently. A small habit performed daily will compound into extraordinary results over time. Never underestimate how God can start something big through one small habit.
Rely on God's Power, Not Willpower
The most honest admission in all of Scripture might be Paul's confession in Romans 7. Despite being one of history's greatest spiritual leaders, he wrote, "I want to do what is right, but I can't. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway." This wasn't defeat, it was the breakthrough that led to true victory. Craig experienced this same reality during his college years when he struggled with drinking. He would make firm commitments to quit, believing his willpower was sufficient, only to find himself with a beer in hand again. The cycle continued until he finally admitted what Paul had discovered, that willpower is a limited resource that eventually depletes. True change requires a power we don't naturally possess. The game-changing revelation comes in Paul's next statement: "Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord." The same resurrection power that brought Jesus back from the dead is available to us in our moments of weakness and struggle. This isn't religious theory, it's practical reality. When we acknowledge our limitations and turn to God's unlimited strength, we access supernatural ability to overcome what once seemed impossible. Walking in the Spirit rather than relying on flesh requires four daily practices. First, renew your mind through consistent engagement with God's Word, allowing His truth to reshape your thinking patterns. Second, remain in close relationship with Jesus through prayer and surrender. Third, in moments of temptation or opportunity, acknowledge your own weakness and inability. Finally, ask God specifically for His power to do what you cannot do alone. This isn't about becoming perfect, but about learning to rely on perfect power. When you stumble, get back up and keep walking. When you succeed, recognize that it was God's strength working through your surrender. The Christian life isn't about trying harder, it's about depending more completely on the One who has already overcome every obstacle you'll face.
Summary
True transformation happens not through behavior modification but through identity renovation, supported by strategic training rather than sporadic trying. As this book powerfully demonstrates, "You do what you do because of what you think of you," and lasting change requires embracing your God-given identity while developing daily habits that align with who you're called to become. The journey from where you are to where you want to be isn't accomplished through willpower alone, but through accessing God's unlimited power in your moments of greatest need. Every small habit you establish, every time you choose training over trying, and every moment you rely on divine strength rather than human effort, you're taking steps toward the transformed life that's already been prepared for you. Your assignment is beautifully simple yet profoundly challenging: choose one small habit that reflects who you want to become, commit to it for the next sixty-six days, and invite God's power into every moment of struggle or success. The person you're becoming through this process is already cheering you on from your future.
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By Craig Groeschel
