Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. –Philippians 4:9
What comes to mind with the word “practice?” I think about piano and tennis. While there are aspects of both that I enjoyed, there was also much to make me cringe. I wanted to play songs, not practice scales. I wanted to play tennis, not run wind sprints and do drills.
In Philippians 4:9, Paul tells the Philippians to put into practice what they had learned and received. When was the last time you, as a disciple of Christ, put into practice what you received through studying the Word, hearing a sermon or Bible Study lesson? Just as in piano and tennis, we learn and grow by putting our faith into practice.
When I was in college, I made a practice on Monday afternoons of reviewing my sermon notes and creating an action for the week to put into practice what I heard. The following week, I reviewed my actions and journaled about what God was teaching me. I remember this being a great time of spiritual growth because I was intentionally practicing my faith.
I don’t claim this as a full proof method for growth, but it helped me greatly. My challenge to you this week is to put into practice what God is teaching you. If you don’t know what He is teaching, perhaps you aren’t listening.