Skill by Practice only

Over the last few weeks, I have been focused on how to manage our thought life. Thoughts stir emotions, which then develop attitudes and then lead to behaviors. This is an inside-out process as is all of spiritual formation directed in the Bible. Along the way, I have tried to give some practical applications for the development of the skill of managing our thoughts. How have you been doing practicing using my suggestions? If you have done nothing or very little, let me lovingly encourage you. Who of you in any area of your skill, gained that skill without practice? Can a piano student become proficient without practice? Can a brick layer, become a skilled apprentice without practicing brick laying. Can an athlete become a skilled player without practice? I think you get the idea.

Many of you have been highly complementary and affirming about what you see in my life and Dottie’s life as we have gone through this last year and as we have shepherd the Southwood congregation. Your affirmation has certainly been a wonderful confirmation of God’s good work in our lives. Our confidence is in His work. Only His genuine work will stand as gold at His judgment seat and the rest deserves to be burned up. However, here is my challenge to you. I would be deeply disappointed if I carried away from my relationship with you, only your compliments. Seeing you takes steps to put into practice that things you have heard and seen in me would bring even greater affirmation. I exist not for compliments but to invest in every way possible the transformation of your lives. Note again, Philippians 4:4-9.

(Philippians 4:4-9) Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! {5} Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. {6} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. {7} And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. {9} 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.

Gentleness cannot be manifested in and through your life without inner transformation. Inner transformation takes place as you take anxious thoughts to the Lord in prayer, ask Him for help, and allow Him to direct our anxious thought from anxiety to positive trust. Paul gives a list of eight replacement thoughts. Finally, Paul encourages us to put into practice whatever has been heard and seen in and through Paul’s life. I also encourage you to put into practice whatever you have seen in others that has been the manifestation of the peace of God worked into their lives by the Spirit of God as a genuine evidence of the fruit of the Spirit. Practice, practice, practice! Remember, there is no spiritual transformation by proxy, only by personal practice.

Have you written Philippians 4:4-9 on a 3 x 5 card so you can carry it with you? Memorization would be even better but writing it out so that the passage is readily available for view and meditation is also sufficient. Meditation is nothing more than reviewing the passage in our minds, reflecting on the truths in the passage, and praying that God will shape our thoughts by the truth of this passage. We all meditate throughout the day. But do we manage what is the content of our meditation? Use this passage to replace unproductive meditation with positive, fruitful meditation. Practice, practice, practice!!!

May the peace of God begin to become a guard for your hearts. I pray that you will become skilled in this area.