PRACTICE ---- Day 338

 

So after breakfast she sits at the piano and begins to play.  She plays a song that I taught her and if I close my eyes I can see myself as a child playing the same song.  She has gotten so good at this song that she could play it with her eyes closed.  She knows where each finger goes…where each note is…and what notes come next.  What she once struggled with or messed up on the melody…she now knows like the back of her hand.  Practice…this is what it does.  It makes us better and more comfortable with whatever we are practicing on.

I’m practicing my prayer life with God because I want to be in His presence and to be more like Him.  I’m practicing how to walk with God daily.  I want to know Him and know when He is speaking to me.  I want to run to Him when there is a problem instead of running my mouth or thinking I can fix it.  I want to pause instead of jump. I want to be able to close my eyes and lean into Him as easy as breath comes into my lungs.  SO…in order to change I need to practice.  

“We cannot trust who we do not know.” ~Wendy Blight

To practice all of this – to practice walking with God daily – requires being present in His presence.  It requires me to open my hands and let go of control.  It requires me to trust in Him and to see the world through Kingdom Eyes. 

We lit the first Advent candle this past Sunday…the Hope candle.  Lighting the candle brings a beautiful light into our home.  Jesus is our constant light and when I practice being in His presence – no matter when that candle is blown out – the light still shines. 

There is a lot of darkness in this world and it could use a bit more twinkle.  One of the things I love about this season…are all of the Christmas lights…the twinkle…spread all over the world.  If only we could keep the lights shining all year long.  In order to shine the light…we need to know the Light of Him.  

So yeah…I’m practicing a lot these days.  Because I want the light to shine constantly in my home…my family…and everywhere.  Practicing His presence, the present moment, and leaning in to His gift…Jesus.

“Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.” Matt. 5:16 (MSG)