Practice

Practice. We had night number three of soccer practice for the three and four year old soccer team. With that age group, it’s hard to get them to do much during practice, but we practice anyway and have a lot of fun doing it. We practice to get better even though the steps are little and hard to see, we do it because over time those small steps from practice build upon one another into habits that show progress.

The same thing occurs in our Christian lives. We don’t become perfect followers when we accept Christ as our Savior. We have to take small steps by allowing the Holy Spirit to show us where we need improvement and then we practice those things. Over time those small steps build into healthy habits that begin to show themselves to others. We call it “growing in Christ”.   “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” - Ephesians 4:15-16.

Many times we believe that we should automatically be good at all aspects of the Christian life when we give our lives to God, but that is not what happens. We are to continue to grow and practice for the rest of our lives. As we become better at some things, there are other areas of our lives that the Holy Spirit will direct us to work on. It’s a continuous journey of practice for the rest of our lives.

“Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you.  Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” - 1 Timothy 4:14-15.  My son had a meltdown today at practice because he didn’t think he was good. It was the third time he practiced soccer, of course he wasn’t going to be good yet. We think the same way as Christians, but as Paul told Timothy, “practice these things”. Even someone like Timothy needing to continue to practice.

Have a great day and God bless.