My favorite movie of all time is from the ’90’s, called “Groundhog Day.” If you’ve seen it, you know the setup.  Bill Murray’s character, Phil Conners, begins the movie as this self-centered character that believes he is more important than the people around him, really only concerned with his own wants and needs. Somehow he gets stuck reliving the same day over and over again. At first, he’s confused. That confusion quickly turns to annoyance and boredom. Then he uses it for selfish fun, indulging in a life without consequences. Eventually, though, he starts seeing the beauty in each day. He begins learning new things, helping people and gradually becomes someone totally different, someone better. Eventually the curse is broken as he becomes this incredible man who has developed new talents and spends much of his time serving those around him. What changed Phil wasn’t a giant event. It was small, repeated choices made every day.

I think that’s how spiritual growth works. We wake up each morning with the same opportunity–to draw closer to God, to learn something new, to help someone in need, to grow more like the person our Heavenly Father needs us to become.

Feasting on the words of Christ does for us what those repeated days did for Phil. It slowly reshapes our character. It reminds us who we really are. It breaks the loop of spiritual laziness and pushes us toward purpose.