When I was young, my parents decided I should learn to play the piano. So over the next ten years, with two different piano teachers twice a week, I learned to play the piano. Some people are surprised to know that music was one of my subjects when I graduated from high school.

When learning to play the piano, you do not start with a piece of music. Instead, you begin with exercises, scales that you will do repeatedly—practicing them over and over. Even though I practiced and could play the piano, I was never a great piano player. I used to say that although I was a good technician, I was not gifted with the artistic gift of music. Consequently, I laid aside playing the piano and concentrated on other things, such as tennis. My parents allowed me to enroll with a tennis coach, and once again, I found myself practicing – practicing my forehands, my backhands, my serve, my volleying, etc. I willingly practiced and continued in tennis, playing in competition tennis on Saturday afternoons. This I enjoyed!

PRACTICE

Practice usually means repeating an action over and over until you can do it the way you desire, even automatically. Practice always involves repeated actions. When my grandsons were involved in competitive swimming, they introduced me to the term ‘muscle memory,’ when repeated actions develop the response of muscle memory. A person will then do things automatically.

The Bible encourages us to recognize the results of practice. Let us look at some of the scriptures that speak about practice. But first, we must understand that ‘practice’ can be negative or positive.

NEGATIVE PRACTICES

In Galatians 5:18-23, Paul lays out a list of the works of the flesh. This list covers such things as fornication, uncleanness, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, drunkenness, etc. Paul then adds, “Just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Notice Paul is not referring to a case of a person doing these things as a single event but rather the situation of a person who practices those things.

One can differentiate between a person who may fall into sin and someone who knowingly practices sin as a way of life. Paul deals with this concept in the book of Romans, where he talks about people with debased minds “being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death” (Romans 1:29 – 32). This is a strong word from Paul, but it is speaking of people who make these things a matter of practice, as against one who may, on occasion, fall into sin.

All of this means a battle, and Paul speaks of this in Romans 7:18, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” This battle of the mind is one that most Christians face, and Paul goes on to describe how you can have victory. Simply put, don’t practice unrighteousness. 

POSITIVE PRACTICE

Even more important than learning not to practice negative things is the call to practice positive things. Going back to the Old Testament, we find God’s command to do just that. Leviticus 20:7-8 declares, “. . . keep My statutes, and practice them (NASB).” Likewise, Psalm 106:3 speaks of those who practice righteousness at all times. Both these verses refer to repetitive actions.

When you come to the New Testament, John writes in I John 3:10, “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” John goes on to emphasize the practice of righteousness as being linked to love, and if we do so (practice), we have passed from death into life.

Likewise, the writer of the book of Hebrews declares in chapter 5, verse 14, “But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” A mature person will practice the Word of God.

PRACTICE AND PERSEVERANCE

A person who practices anything requires perseverance. It is not a quick fix to perfect something. It requires repeated actions that enable us to grow and achieve more and more. I came across this article by Rebecca George from the book ‘Do The Thing.’

“As any runner can tell you, no one starts off running by signing up for a marathon. First, I learned to run a mile, and then I worked up to a 5K, and then I tackled numerous half-marathons and a lot of intense training before building up the endurance to run 26.2 miles.

One day, during a training session, my lungs fatigued as the distance passed beneath my feet. With each harsh foot strike, my mental stamina was challenged beyond anything I had previously experienced. Since I’d never run a full marathon, my body didn’t recognize this level of strain. I was bone-tired but still had 5 miles to go. Although I had crossed the finish line of many half-marathons and done other endurance activities, I was unsure if I could finish that first 20-mile training run.

I’d been warned this might happen, so I’d asked my running coach, Robin, to meet me at mile 18. Without her, I knew there was a chance I might stop early. 

As I reached our meeting point, I could see she was checking her laces. Soon, off we went. Together. With her pacing beside me, she lifted my spirits and gave life to my tired muscles in a way I desperately needed, as if I had borrowed strength from her fresh legs. But the boost was short-lived. When we turned for the final stretch, I could go no farther. I stopped, put my head between my knees, took deep, long breaths, and started tearing up. “I can’t do this,” I whispered, shame and frustration blocking my voice.

Robin knelt, looked me in the eyes, and said, “Rebecca, you’ve made it this far. Think about it as if you’re starting a 1-mile run. Don’t think of the 19 miles you’ve already done. Let’s go!”

With her cheering me through each passing second, one step at a time, we drew closer and closer to our cars. When I finally felt the vibration of my watch signaling I had finished the final mile, I cried right there in the parking lot.

When training for a full marathon, everyone at some point will feel like they’re at the end of themselves. Oftentimes, as we pursue our glory goal, similar moments happen when we have to develop some spiritual stick-to-itiveness to endure the final stretch.”

Another thing besides the need for perseverance from this story is that we will do better if someone cheers us on. That is what all of us need in the body of Christ. Other Christians to urge us to keep practicing with perseverance.

A PERSONAL EXAMPLE

I mentioned before that I learned both piano and tennis. When I got older, my favorite sport became golf. I was never a good golf player, but I loved it. So much so, as a member of Dr. Cho’s Board of Directors of Church Growth International, I accepted the invitation, along with other board members, to stay an extra day in Korea and enjoy a game of golf. Being a left-handed player, I took my golf clubs with me. We went to one of the most beautiful gold courses you could imagine. In the end, prizes were given in various categories. I won a prize – a beautiful handbag valued at hundreds of dollars – for the highest score. Don’t ask me what the score was.

I realized that I would never be great at golf. Why? Because I didn’t practice enough. That is why you see people out on the driving range. Even the pros practice. They don’t just turn up at a tournament; they practice regularly.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

You can apply this principle of ‘practice’ to any area of your life where you want to grow, especially in your Christian walk. Some examples may be:

  • If you want to grow as a Christian, then start reading your Bible every day. That is related to ‘meditating’ on the Word.
  • If you want to grow in love, then practice showing love to others in practical ways.
  • If you want to grow in an area of ministry, practice that ministry. For example, I heard of someone who prayed 500 times for people to be healed before he saw regular healings taking place.

CLOSING THOUGHT

Years ago, I read a quote from Bear Bryant, the famous Alabama football coach. He stated, “It is not the will to win that matters – everyone has that. It is the will to prepare to win that matters.” What does preparation involve? It involves practice, practice, practice. That is what NFL players do every week, and that is what Christians should likewise do daily – practice!

RESOURCES

George, R. (2023). Do the thing: Gospel-centered goals, Gumption, and Grace for the Go-Getter Girl. DAVID C COOK.