All of us know that it takes practice to get better at something. It doesn’t matter if it is sports of some kind like golf, football, or team roping it takes time and commitment to get better and better until you are able to compete and perform adequately. It takes practice to be a better guitar player or band member.  It takes practice to learn new skills or operate big machinery. It takes time and practice to even be a better parent. However, it also takes practice to become a better person.

I’ve always had a bad habit of opening my mouth and speaking when I should keep it shut.  I also have a bad habit of hearing but not really listening.  Regardless, like sports or anything else it takes practice to improve. It takes time and practice to be better at most anything.

Old habits are hard to break and it takes discipline, commitment, and courage to implement new habits and make changes. When we operate on bad habits alone it brings us down and creates stress and turmoil in our lives.

It doesn’t matter if your weakness is anger, frustration, lack of patience, being late for work–whatever you deal with that needs changing it is going to take practice. We must all work to perform better and focus on getting better and improving our lives. We have to practice learning to be patient. We have to practice at not getting angry or frustrated. I have to practice watching my mouth and learning to listen.

Sometimes practice is hard….just ask any football player or athlete who spends a lot of time on the practice field. A great deal of the time practice is demanding but the more you do it and the better you get the easier it is. Anything worthwhile takes effort, commitment, discipline and focus.

God says we must practice our faith. That involves learning to be kind, practicing patience, practicing listening and hearing what others say. It takes practice to “let it go” when someone steps on your toes or hurts you. It takes practice to overlook someone who is hurting and taking it out on you. It takes practice to get to work on time. It takes practice to forgive and forget. It takes practice to be kind instead of criticize. Good habits of any kind take practice to incorporate.

I’m practicing at keeping my mouth shut. I’m practicing not to cuss anymore. I’m practicing to listen more to what others have to say. I’m practicing being kinder and more forgiving. Sometimes it is so hard. Sometimes I take two steps forward and ten steps back.  The more I work at it the more prevalent it is in my mind. It is slowly getting better and easier. I don’t have it all down yet but hopefully I’m making some progress.

I did an interview with team roper Walt Woodward for a magazine article I was writing and I asked him what his game plan was going into the National Finals of Team Roping was.  His comment was he wanted to just make three good practice runs.  He wanted to rope at the National Finals of Team Roping with the focus and intensity he used in the practice pen. He wanted three solid runs with no mistakes; he wanted to utilize all the right things he had practiced.

You live your faith by doing the right things. A lot of our faith is all about how we treat and minister to others. It isn’t the easiest thing to do but it does make us stop and think and it involves changing for the better.

What are you practicing for? Are there some old habits that need changed? Do you need to start practicing some new ones? I know I sure need lots of practice. Thank goodness God hasn’t given up on me? He is a good coach and gives me the incentive and the time to practice and learn new and better things. He prompts me to change.  He never condemns me but convicts me to do better. I don’t always get it right but through God in me I’m slowly getting there. What about you?  How is your practice going?

Be Blessed This Day!
Melinda Clements

Sunrise Over the Rockies

With my nose pressed hard against the glass I watched the terrain move by.  Snow covered every peak and I could only imagine the cold from my seat in the plane high above.  As the plane banked subtly to the west you see the red glow of the approaching sunrise as it teased the horizon.

My flight from Sal Lake City had departed before six in the morning and I was anxious to get back to Texas.  I looked below and in the dim morning light the vastness of the terrain below reminded me just how sheltered and naïve I really am.  I get in my own little zone sometimes and forget there is a whole big world out there that has absolutely nothing to do with me.

God is at work in every little crook and cranny of the world and his splendor and grace abound for all of us.  Suddenly, the sun peaked over the horizon and because of my seat I could see how the light caressed some places while others would have to wait awhile before they felt the light and warmth.

God’s light and warmth is there no matter the circumstances or situations.  Sometimes it may take a minute for us to realize it or feel it but it is there always.  As I watched the sun climb the shadows diminished and the light illuminated the snow packed peaks of the rugged mountain passages.

My drive into Salt Lake City earlier had revealed the glistening glitter of the snow packed roads and I knew the mountains glittered as well.  I just couldn’t see it from thirty thousand feet in the air.  God is there for us in the warmth of the salted sandy beaches and he is there for us in the jagged edges of the mountain peaks. Be it the mesquite and brush of West Texas or the sweetness of the tropics His light is the warmth that assures us, no matter what, that all is going well and going to be okay.

My vantage point above the Rocky Mountains gave me a new perspective.  God’s world isn’t just about me.  God’s world is all of us no matter where we are and what we are dealing with.  God’s world is each one of us in our situations and circumstances and he never ever leaves us to fend for ourselves.  His vastness is bigger than the Rocky Mountains and wider than the sky. There is nothing he cannot handle or take care of if we will only give him the opportunity to do so and trust and have the faith that he will be there for us.

Suddenly fluffy white clouds with a cotton candy texture obstructed my view below.  The terrain below disappeared and for a minute I couldn’t see anything.  As quickly as the terrain and sun disappeared it appeared again.  God is there for us, moving in and out, around and about monitoring each of his children and addressing our needs.

Take his hand today and let him be your priority.  Let him love you and care for you.  He is always there and he never abandons us.

I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.  Thank you, Lord, for all you are and all we can be through you.

Be Blessed This Day!