“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
Earlier in the school year I asked my chorus students what they would do to address parts of their repertoire in need of improvement. The answer was unanimous: practice.
But they didn’t know how to practice.
Fast forward a few months and we’re starting work on new repertoire. Having the teacher brain that I do (and that I’m thankful for), I asked them two questions:
1. How do we learn new music?
2. How do we practice music?
I gave them an example of my practicing baking soufflés (I picked this because when I watch baking shows, contestants always freak out when they have to make soufflés – also, for some reason the majority of my teaching examples involve food.) Suppose I’m in a bakery and the baker tells me to practice baking soufflés. There’s one problem: I don’t know how to bake a soufflé at all. No clue. Something about sugar and taking it out of the oven at just the right time. But I don’t know the oven temperature, or the ingredients, or the amount of each ingredient. I can’t practice something I don’t know how to do in the first place.
But if I look at a recipe, I can try making a soufflé . . . and then another . . . and another. . . until it becomes an act of practice. Because I know the oven temperature and the ingredients and the amount of each ingredient.
Maybe you’re not walking with God, or maybe your walk with God is new. Or maybe you’ve walked with God for a long time, but your path has become cluttered with ministry obligations or man-made expectations.
Regardless, we can’t practice what we don’t know anything about. We can’t practice what we haven’t learned.
How do we learn?
- Know what Scripture says: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
- Seek advice and instruction from trusted believers who also know and practice what Scripture says (Proverbs 19:20 ESV)
“Practice Makes Perfect” – Big fat nope. There’s no such thing as perfection created or achieved by human hands. But practice makes improvement; practice makes finer skills; practice makes a critical, discerning mind; practice makes a kinder heart.
How do we practice what we’ve learned?
- Keep Scripture with you throughout the day and act on it (2 Timothy 3:14 ESV; James 1:22 ESV)
- Listen to the Holy Spirit (if you’ve accepted Christ as your Savior) (Romans 8:5-6 ESV)
How will you learn and practice this week?
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
