Practice Makes Perfect

 

I enjoy playing golf. I haven’t had much time for it in recent years but I played more often when I was younger. After years of practice, I got to the point where I played pretty well. It’s true for all sports that you need to practice to get better and that you need to practice constantly if you want to get to and maintain a high level of proficiency. You begin with the basics and, when you have mastered them, you move on to more advanced skills. Sometimes, if you are having trouble, you need to go back and work on your basic skills and then build back up again.

 

The same principle is true spiritually. If we want to hear God and allow Him to guide us in the major events in our lives, we need to practice our listening skills in the everyday activities of life. We should be mindful of the depth of God’s love in order to appreciate the height of His love.  This doesn’t mean we should ask Him whether to buy Coke or Pepsi but rather that we make a constant effort to allow Him into our lives each day in whatever we may be doing, in whatever situation we find ourselves. We need to establish a habit of seeking Him out and listening to Him in the little things so that we may be confident that we can hear Him speaking to us in the big things. We are advised by Paul, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything (my emphasis), by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil 4:6).

 

God knows us to the very tiniest detail. Jesus said, “Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Lk 12:7). His infinite love will lead us to our best lives if we follow Him.