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The Devotional Diva - Practice Makes Perfect
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The Devotional Diva - Practice Makes Perfect
By Barbara Gobbs
Executive Assistant and Ministry Partner - Pocket Full of Change Ministries
“If you know that He [Jesus] is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.” I John 2:29 (NAS95)
My mom always quoted the cliché, “If at first you don’t succeed; try, try again.” Of course, she also made me familiar with, “Practice makes perfect.” Perhaps you heard these as well during your lifetime.
Practice plays an important part of growing up. Reach back through the cobwebs of time with me and remember all the areas where we had to practice. We started early with the ABC’s and then moved up to multiplication tables. Anyone out there play in a sport? Were you a cheerleader? Did you take band or piano? Before we could get our drivers license, we had to coax terrified parents to relinquish the wheel so we could practice driving. Practice, practice, practice, the sound of that phrase brought a scowl my face more than once!
As adults, we often aren’t inclined to practice things in the same manner as when we were kids. Although my husband wishes I’d practice cooking more often, I frequently forget to go that extra mile in many of my daily routines.
There are things I do practice. If I am teaching, I generally practice my lesson verbally. It helps if I can pronounce words properly. If I am speaking to a group, I’ve practiced my talk to every wall in the house. It’s imperative that I be prepared for these situations. Practice makes me prepared! One day during my quiet time, I John chapter 2:29 awakened something in my heart. It suggested I “Practice righteousness.” What was it about the word practice?
Knowing certain things are expected in my Christian walk, I often feel unsuccessful when I fail to accomplish them the way I think I should. For example, what was that Sally asked me to pray about? Rats, I forgot to call Jane, again. (Names changed to protect me!) Will I ever get it all right? No. Should I stop trying? No, I just need more practice.
When I think about my walk as daily practice for Christian living, I receive a strange sense of comfort. It’s as if I’m off the hook from all the self-pressure when I miss the mark, spiritually. Let me attempt to better convey what I got from I John 2:29 personally. To me, practice is something I do consistently. It requires effort. It has a goal in mind. It helps strengthen where we are weak. It assumes we might not always get it right; after all, it is practice. Practice allows for a few stumbles here and there. Proper practice will incorporate lessons learned from those stumbles. Just as a teacher will acknowledge the effort of your practice, so will others. Like they say, maybe we’re not where we should be, but we’re not where we were either!
When we live a life committed to practicing righteousness, others can’t help but notice the source of the righteousness we are emulating. Here more than anywhere, practice does make perfect because in Christ our practice is perfecting us, conforming us to His image - all with the help of His blessed Holy Spirit.
Practicing righteousness will prepare me and perfect me for life in Christ. Suddenly practice takes on an entirely new meaning. In Christ, it is permissible to practice, in fact it’s encouraged! Righteousness, like our childhood games and hobbies, its best when practiced daily.
How blessed are those who keep justice, who practice righteousness at all times! Psalm 106:3
Practicing because in Christ, I’m being made perfect!
Barbara
Divinely Inspired Victoriously Active
PS: For further study into other things the Scripture would have us practice, read:
Romans 12:13 (Hospitality)
Phil.4:9 (things learned)
I Tim. 5:4 (practice with your family first!)
Matt. 5:19 (commandments)
Barbara Gobbs is a ministry partner with and the Executive Assistant of Pocket Full of Change Ministries. For more information, to schedule a speaker for an event, or to request a newsletter, go to www.pocketfullofchange.org or call Gail Golden, Publicist at 904 316-5462. This ministry is supported by donations. If this ministry helps you or others, and God calls you to help support this work, you can make a donation to Pocket Full of Change Ministry at POB 51205, Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32240.
© Pocket Full of Change Ministries
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