Keep Practicing
What do you consistently practice?
Verse of the Day
“Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Today’s Devotional
I have a friend who is an accomplished pianist. I’ve never gotten to hear him play in person, but I have seen several videos of him performing. It’s amazing. And something he mentions often is that no matter how skilled he is at playing the piano, he must practice often. Even pieces of music that he has mastered, he has to practice them.
How much more must that same thing be true of spiritual matters?
Today’s verse comes directly after the verse from yesterday where Paul instructed us to focus our thoughts on Godly things. And before that, Paul tells us to settle disagreements, be full of joy, be considerate, don’t worry, pray about everything, and be thankful. That’s a pretty hefty list of instructions. I love that we are told to keep practicing. There is an assumption that, just like my friend who plays piano, we will never master these disciplines to the point that we no longer need to practice. There is also an assumption that we will make mistakes. We would not need to practice something that was easy to master.
If we long for the daily renewal that comes from God, then we must be people who make intentional choices to practice the things that the Bible tells us to do. Reading the Bible is great, but we must then DO the things the Bible is telling us to do. James 1:22 says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” Later in James 4:17 it says, “It is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.”
Personally, I long for a fuller, deeper, richer relationship with God. Perhaps God is challenging me (and maybe you too) to practice the things He has told me in His Word will help me. Meditation has been hard for me. But I’m still doing it. (Are you?) I’m choosing to practice meditation because God tells me in the Bible to do it. Some days I really have to fight myself to get it done. But I’m OK with that. I used to have to fight with myself to read the Bible, now I delight in doing that.
Perhaps practicing spiritual disciplines like meditation (or prayer, Bible reading, journaling, fasting) seem small in comparison to saving the lost or discipling others. But without the daily habits that allow me to practice obedience and that allow God to continually renew me, there’s no way I would be ready for anything “bigger”. And then there’s what Jesus said. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.” (Luke 16:10) And again in a parable in Matthew 25:21, Jesus says, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”
Our consistent practicing of the things the Bible tells us to do allows us to share in our Master’s happiness. Practicing these things consistently is being faithful with the little things. And if you notice the last line of today’s verse, practicing these things will pave the way for the peace of God to be with us. That sounds like a better return on our investment of time than anything this world could ever offer.
Journal Prompts
Answer only the questions that seem relevant to you today.
When and how have you seen the value of practicing something?
What are some things you are already consistent with? How can you continue to practice those things? What would make them a little more challenging in order for you to grow deeper in that area?
How could you become a more faithful and consistent practicer?
Write down 1 or 2 things that will help your spiritual growth that you would like to practice. Ask God to help you with this. Put them on your calendar or to-do list everyday.