Practice Makes Permanent

“I saw that the most important thing I had to do was to give myself to the reading of the Word of God, and to meditation on it….not the simple reading of the Word of God, so that it only passes through our minds, just as water runs through a pipe, but considering what we read, pondering over it, and applying it to our hearts.” - George Müller

My 13-year-old friend entered the windowless practice room with her violin and sheet music. A lone judge would evaluate her performance, grading every aspect of her work.

Bow in hand, she put her music on the stand and brought the violin to her chin.

Weeks of practice funneled into this one brief performance. Each morning, during school, and in the evenings her violin would sing the melody that would represent her musical development and skill.

The judge smiled and nodded, and the recital began. Thirty seconds into the performance, all was going well. And then – without warning – the lights went out, and darkness engulfed the room. But her practice paid off. Undeterred, she played on. Continuing without aide of the sheet music, she finished the presentation in the dark and received a top score.

\What she had practiced faithfully day after day became second nature, allowing her to overcome the challenge and finish well.

David understood the power and importance of practice in his walk with God. He said, “Your decrees are the theme of my song. . . In the night I remember your name, O LORD, and I will keep your law. This has been my practice: I obey your precepts.” (Psalm 119:54-56)