What are you practicing?

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I am a firm believer in practice. In fact, I guess you could say I have pretty much banked most of my life on it. As long as I can remember, I have been practicing something--dance (very early in life before my awkward stage), softball (to get out of much-hated summer garden work from 3rd-12th grade), band (years and years of playing the flute), piano (my dad wouldn't let me choose between piano and flute when I wanted to quit, so I kept both), teaching (seemed like a good idea at the time), marriage (24-plus years now, but I am not sure how much better I am than when I started at being a wife),  mothering (currently to 18-, 20-, and 21-year-olds), friend (ugh this one is tough and I stink at it), and the list could just keep going . . .but I won't bore you! The point is, practice is something we all engage in, whether eagerly for something we love or out of obligation or a hundred other sometimes nebulous reasons.

However, Galatians 5 tells me that if I practice the wrong thing--the deeds of the flesh--I won't inherit the kingdom of God. Each time I read that chapter it forces me to stop and evaluate what I am practicing, and it's not always pretty. It seems really easy to see what others are "practicing"--even in the body of Christ--but turn the spotlight on me, and my motivation must be different for some of the same actions, right? WRONG! Sin is sin, and we all fall short on a regular basis. The question is, am I going to live there wallowing in it, or am I going to let the Spirit dwelling in me mold me and change me into something that looks more like Christ and less like me? "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." These are what I need to be practicing because those who "belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal. 5:22-24, NASB).  The last few verses of Galatians 5 offer a good check. Am I living this way, or am I letting my flesh lead and engaging in unhealthy actions like boasting and challenging and envying others? If that's what I am practicing, some serious evaluation of my relationship with him needs to happen. Pride is definitely not on that list of the fruit of the Spirit! I don't know of any coach worth his or her salt who doesn't encourage his or her players to practice like they want to perform. I want to walk worthy . . .So, I have some things to practice, what about you?

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