Practice time and game time

Growing up I played basketball. Even through college I played basketball. My least favorite part of being on the basketball team was conditioning. Especially in college, we spent a large part of our time running. My next least favorite part was the drills: passing, dribbling, shooting, more running. If I were to compare the amount of time spent playing basketball to the amount of time spent in practice, I am certain that the amount of time in practice would be more than the amount spend playing in games by a factor of 10 or more.

Why spend so much time practicing? The games are what count. But it is in much practice that we prepared for the games. A team that practices together can overcome teams that have more raw talent but that have not spend as much time developing it.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. Times of prayer, Bible study, meditation on God's word - these all prepare us for the times of discouragement, trouble, and obstacles that crop up occasionally. If we wait for the obstacles and discouraging circumstances to come before we begin to pray, study God's word, and meditate then we will be ill prepared to face our seemingly impossible situations.

In fact, my observation tells me that failure to "practice" is the mark of an immature Christian. He only sees the need for Scripture and prayer and fellowship when life is difficult. When life is going well, he seems content to read his Bible occasionally if at all, to pray only when publically called on to pray, and to miss fellowship with other Christians when something else comes up.

We can never be prepared to be used of God until we have practiced so that when game time comes, we are ready.