W6D3: Practice These Things

"The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:9 NASB

Practice is the actual application or use of something as opposed to just thinking about it. In other words, it means to DO, not just dream. When we practice something, we are exercising our belief in that thing. Avid runners run because they believe running will bring them happiness, good health or a combination of the two. The act of running is the implementation of their belief.

Practice can also refer to a customary way that we do something. It refers to our habitual rituals and routines. We do these things without even thinking about them because they are habits that have become part of who we are.

Practicing also means to perform an activity or exercise a skill repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain our skills in that activity. We rehearse, repeat, work on it because if we don’t, we will never fully achieve all that we can and we will lose what ability we do have.

Habits and diligence are two types of practices that have important differences. Practices that are habits refer to the things we do subconsciously and often compulsively. Habits are not always negative, but most of the time when we talk about a habit it is referring to a negative practice.

Diligence on the other hand, is considered to be a positive form of practice. Diligence is to have a careful and persistent effort in the work or action that is being performed. Diligence is listed as one of the "seven heavenly virtues” and a quality we should work to achieve. 

If we practice a skill in a haphazard way, we won't be able to perform that skill well, especially when we are under pressure. Careless practice causes bad habits to form and robs us of excellence. But when we practice with diligence, being careful to carry out the skills in the best possible way, we will achieve the excellence our hearts desire. It's much harder to practice with diligence than it is to just practice. That is why we often call poor skills “sloppy habits.”

“Practice makes perfect,” is a lie. Perfect practice makes perfect and it can only be achieved by practicing with diligence. When we continue to allow ourselves to think negatively, we are practicing to be negative and we draw negative energy into our lives. We don’t just go with the flow when negative thoughts and emotions start to carry us away. We diligently paddle hard against the current so we don’t end up dashed on the rocks of pain, sorrow and heartbreak. Practicing perfection takes time and energy. Perfection is not a destination, it's a lifelong pursuit.

"Diligence, in Christianity, is the effort to do one's part, while keeping faith and reliance in God. In other words, diligence and faith are two sides of a mystery. One doesn’t know how, despite one's effort, it all works out. But diligence when combined with faith assures spiritual success. Diligence as one of seven virtues describes thoroughness, completeness and persistence of an action, particularly in matters of faith.” Wikipedia 

Do you fight to keep your thoughts healthy and positive? List some positive habits that will help you work toward perfection and practice what you believe; then pick one to start doing today. When it becomes a solid habit, pick another one.

Meditate on “practice these things" today.