"Practice"?!

Former NBA Super Star Allen Iverson was asked about practice at a news conference several years back.  He appeared to be appalled that a reporter would ask him about "Practice".  His opinion was that "Practice" isn't important.  He believed "game day" is what mattered.  Today he is no longer in the NBA and playing over seas in Turkey.  I believe he would tell you today that "Practice" is vital.

 

As a coach and former football player one of my biggest beliefs is you should "Practice" how you desire to play on "game day". No one part is greater than the other. It was a challenge some days to get my players to want to "Practice", even more difficult when it was 100 degrees outside or 25 degrees out. 

As a coach, if I told you there were not days I did not want to be at "Practice" then I would not be being truthful with you.  However, I knew the vitality of "Practice" and there were some guys that understood that "Practice" is where they improved their skills and possessed the self-discipline to apply and commit daily to "Practice" in order to improve to perform well on "game day".  Once they bought into this philosophy, they loved to "Practice" because they understood how important practice was to their success.  Just as I believe "Practice" is important in football, it is critical to the success of an individual or group regardless of the sport or activity i.e. Art, Band, Ballet, Cheer leading, Dance, Golf, Skateboarding, Surfing, Soccer, Volleyball etc. if they want to experience success and sustain it.

I believe our walk with God is more important than any relationship, sport or activity we can partake in.  By unconditionally putting God first, I will guarantee that you will have success in life, relationships, sports and/or activities by winning from within.  This is why you must "Practice" daily so that you will have success throughout the week to sustain your walk with God, not just be a "game day" (Church) Christian.  Do you want to get better?  "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us-- whatever we ask--we know that we have what we ask of him." (I John 5:13-15 NIV).

"Practice" is reading your playbook (Bible) daily and praying to seek God's direction.  This takes self-discipline.  It is not easy.  You have to set a daily "Practice" time to hang with God one-on-one and stick to it.  If you have to call an audible (change the play) and move "Practice" time to another time that day, then do what you have to do that day to win.  By doing this you will say "Never Would Have Made It" (Marvin Sapp) because with every "Practice" you will become "better, stronger, and wiser".  In other words, it will be harder for the devil to tackle (football term) you.  And trust me, the devil is going to try to tackle you. That is why "Practice" is so important.  "So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.  And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it." (I Cor. 10:12-13 NIV)  The good news is, if you are tackled you do not have to stay down.  You can get back up.

By practicing daily, you are getting in position to shine on "game day".  Just as a football player has to be in the right position to be successful, I believe Christians have to be in the right position to experience spiritual success for God to bless them and use them.

It Takes Sacrifice to Win-