Practice make repetitive. I know, that is a little different than the saying that most of us know and subscribe to, practice makes perfect. Well, I believe the former and it really fits with what I read this morning in God’s Word.
“13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching…7Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;” — 1 Timothy 4:13 & 7 (ESV)
When I want to get good at something, I have to practice that thing, devote to it and spend the time with it. Before I practice it, I have to be trained in it and understand it and take it seriously. I have to be willing to put in the work for the success of that which I am involved. That goes for my relationship with Christ for sure.
The first step is to be trained in the relationship with Christ, what is that relationship all about, what does each get in return, how do I begin. Once I have been trained in the relationship with Christ, I now have to cultivate that relationship. I have to devote myself to the relationship and practice each and every day to have that repetitive deep understanding of the relationship and of Christ Himself.
I believe that too often, we find something and believe that all is well now that it has been found. We forget that finding that thing is just the beginning. I order to get the most out of it, one has to learn more about it and then dive into it and live it and grow with it. There is a depth needed to understand and apply. There is more than just learning, there is an understanding that is needed.
Training is where it all begins. I learn of something and then train to know as much as I can, but that is just the beginning. Once I have an understanding, I practice to learn how to use that and the understanding to grow the relationship. I need to know about Christ so that I know how to please Him and how He will provide for me.
The growing of the relationship is where the practice comes into play. I work daily to to apply that which I learned. I practice prayer, thanksgiving, providing teaching, and bringing joy. I live the relationship and not just learn about it. I work to repeat those actions that bring glory to Him each day. All of those things that I was trained to bring I practice for Him and the relationship with Him.
What are you practicing? Are you learning and being trained on things and then taking on the practice to create repetitive actions? What if you learned from Christ to have a relationship with Him and did all you could to devote yourself to the training receive from Him?
Trevor's Thoughts 