Hey friends, how are you today? How was your week? We’ve had a great week over here. Anna and I have decided to run a 5k in the fall (hooray!). Although primarily I run almost daily as my form of workout, Anna is a novice runner but already, she runs almost 3 miles in just under a month. Of course, the fact that she is only 22 years old is surely in her favor. It surely has been a wonderfully few weeks, watching the transformation take place. Sometimes, I run with her, keeping pace with her, but other times, I run ahead (lately most times actually, yes… I’m competitive like that) just to prove that I’m the mother and she is the child. Perhaps in the near future, it won’t always be so, but for now, I’ll take my pleasure where I can. Do you exercise? What is your exercise routine?

Recently for my devotion with the Lord, I came across the word, ‘practice’ in 2Peter 1:12. …’practice these qualities’ (Peter says) ‘and you will never fail’ (ESV). Practice, practice, practice. It’s a good word; practice. The repeated exercise of thinking, saying, doing, something over and over and over again. Constantly thinking, saying, and doing until it becomes a habit; until it becomes second nature. Practice!

Sometimes, I give up too quickly when my task is difficult. Sometimes, it is beyond me to love that very unloveable person, sometimes it seems just impossible to forgive that person, when she has shown no remorse for her action, some days I just want to bury my head in the sand because the world is truly a scary place. But practice faith, practice virtue, practice gaining knowledge, practice godliness, practice steadfastness, practice brotherly affection, practice. Practice, practice, practice, and I will never fail.

Don’t give up… grace abounds, mercy abounds, love abounds. We can do it if we continue to practice!




23 responses to “PRACTICE! PRACTICE!”
Truly encouraging to know our practice is evidence of our faith in God.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our actions testify of our relationship with the Lord.
LikeLike
That’s impressive that you run so well! I wish you and your daughter the best in the 5K! Practice does make a difference. Anything we want to do well at usually takes practice. Reflecting on my army days, I never excelled at running but looking back I only ran when I had to and rarely spent extra time practicing on my own. So I can see why I wasn’t that great lol. Thought provoking post. Thanks Brenda!
LikeLiked by 1 person
😃😃‘practices’ they say ‘makes perfect’ and that is true of the things of God too. The more we obey, the faster we will obey and the more we will obey
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good for you for keeping up with your running . A race together is so fun. I have many excuses for why I’m not running, but the main excuse is I lost my desire. Maybe if it the temp ever drops below 80 I will start again. It was 105 today . And you’re right about practice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I could not imagine running in these temps, so I do understand. Stay safe, my friend
LikeLike
“She runs almost 3 miles in just under a month.”
Good grief! That’s nothing! I can run three miles in less than a week, sometimes even four days! Now there are some goals for her to shoot for‼️😂
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣🤣🤣words are such a thing of beauty, but can be quite a challenge at times too 😂😂 I will have to show her this 😂😂thanks for the laughter today
LikeLiked by 1 person
Practicing the spiritual disciplines is rewarding. It is so much easier to show others the love of God when I spend time with the Lord.
Do you run in the snow? I think that could be fun for you 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have tried running in the snow, but it’s too slippery, we probably would need a different kind of shoes 👠 that’s the only way to exercise these disciplines, by spending time with the Lord
LikeLike
I love this, Brenda! My first running event, back in 2016 was a quarter marathon. After that, I was hooked. I trained for a half marathon, the next year, and a full marathon the next. Practice was key.
I’m a mostly positive person, and want to stay that way. The secret is practicing the virtues you mentioned. Yes, bad things happen to most of us. Other humans let us down. But God is good, and so are most people. I enjoy your can do attitude!
God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow 😯 in just two years you ran a marathon! I’m proud to know you 😁😁 I do enjoy running but a marathon, in fact anything with the name marathon is beyond me, even if we practice 😄😄😄God bless you my friend.
LikeLike
Practice, practice, practice – yes. Also I do walking as running would cause my milk-makers to give me two black eyes – lol.
LikeLiked by 1 person
🤣🤣🤣🤣I have to run with not one but two milk makers holder 😂😂that’s funny 😁 had me laughing out loud. Practice certainly makes us better
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s great that your daughter is running with you. These days walking and bike riding are my forms of enjoying the outdoors and getting exercise. I agree that grace and mercy abound – we are blessed! 🌺
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen and amen 🙏🏽 new grace and new mercy arrives each morning from our Lord. I do thank the Lord for her company, she helps me to be more consistent
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay, I don’t run, mainly because I can’t. And truthfully, I don’t walk enough; I have a bit of a breathing disorder, and sometimes it’s hard to get motivated. And full disclosure, when I’m reminded to exercise I remember a sign that said “I’m retired – I don’t have to, I don’t want to, you can’t make me.” 🙂
But everything you’ve said is right, and reminds me what you said in another post: Being a Christian and living a Christian life is INTENTIONAL. Practicing Godly habits, willfully submitting to His Will for our lives, growing in our faith, reading and sharing His Word, putting 2 Peter 1:5-7 in action.
Amen.
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂😂😂oh that bit about retiring 😂😂 Some days I feel exactly like that. I like the word ‘practice’ because it provides do-over days. It offers us the opportunity to lean on mercy and grace
LikeLike
Brenda, it’s so good to see you and read your wise words! I’m proud of you both! I used to run~now I do try and walk daily. I miss hiking! I did that for years. Recently I purchased a recumbent stationary bike to help me since my body isn’t cooperating! I love getting out in nature, though! Practice, practice, practice~truth in the Word! I keep practicing too, my friend! God bless you! 💕🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, my friend. May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly. I love nature, but I do not like nature’s creatures. We’ve certainly made this summer, a summer of outdoors.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Brenda! I understand! That made me giggle 🤭 thinking of my creature experiences! I’m so glad it’s been a good summer, too! Blessings! 🙏🏻💚
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed practice produces perfection in most situations
LikeLiked by 1 person
And that’s the truth. We get better and better the more we do something. Just imagine how much better we will be at loving others the more we practice
LikeLike