Ready:
"Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.” —2 Timothée 2:15
Set:
Coach Mike Krzyzewski, known as Coach K, coached basketball at Duke for 42 years. He is one of the greatest college basketball coaches of all time. He once said, “Preparation to win is more important than the will to win. If you combine the preparation to win with the will to win, you have a chance!”
Did you catch it? It can’t just be your passion to win, or to say, “I’m all about winning.” There is a more important aspect. It’s about practicing and preparing. This powerful lesson is also true for our spiritual lives and journey with Jesus Christ. If we want to excel in our Christian life, if we want to develop and grow as a follower of Him, we must engage in specific practice and preparation. The clear instruction from the Bible, which comes directly from God, tells us to prepare. Be diligent to show yourself as one approved – this is your effort of preparing and practicing God’s ways:
Be diligent in personal prayer and personal study of the Bible. Spend time listening to God as you pray. Prayer isn’t just talking and asking God to do things. Prayer is a time to be quiet and listen. God directs us in these moments. One thing to do is put your phone away. Turn it off. Stop all other noise and distractions and spend time with God.
Take time to study parts of the Bible. More than just reading it, dig into specific verses, chapters and books. As an example, take a whole month to read over John or Proverbs. You choose a Book and read it, study it, practice what it tells you.
As far as it depends on you, be diligent and earnest in practicing and preparing in your spiritual life.
Go:
Do you give a full effort in every practice? Would your coach say the same thing as you’re saying about your practicing?
How much effort to you give to practicing and preparing your Christian life? Do you recognize that the way you practice will be the way you respond or react in every situation in daily life?
Workout:
Overtime:
“Lord Jesus, I need Your help to give a better effort in my practicing and preparing to be ready for daily life. I want to make You happy by how I live. I want to see the reward of thinking and acting according to Your ways and Your will. Give me motivation, a heart of diligence and strength to seek You and follow in Your ways. All of this for Your honor and glory. Amen.”