Training Not Trying

Physical training. Do you do workouts? Maybe you run marathons (half or full), lift weights, attend exercise classes, or maybe you hike. I bet you like it if you participate weekly or daily. But I bet you didn’t necessarily enjoy the rigorous routine starting out. You worked into liking it and then possibly loving it. And now it is an obsession for some of you.

Food. Are you a connoisseur of meals? You like to eat good food, maybe a certain ethnic or cultural style, or exquisite flavors. Did you like those current favorites all your life even as a kid or did you acquire a “taste” for distinct foods through the years?

Hunting. Do you consistently hunt? Maybe it is getting a good deal on a dress. (I bet you thought I was going somewhere different with that subject!) Regardless of what you hunt, have you not acquired more understanding and joy after dozens of hunting escapades?

Music. Do you play an instrument or go to the symphony? The instrument was difficult to play at first before you put effort into it. The symphony was initially long and tedious, but you wanted to appreciate it for what it is even from the beginning.

Why can’t spending time with Christ and putting effort into His Word be as joyful as playing your favorite instrument, as exciting as the next hunt, as delicious as your favorite meal, and as compulsive as a good run? Nothing that takes practice to perfect begins with enjoyment. We grow into it. Progress will not occur because we feel obligated. It is only when we desire something that the delight obliterates the duty. When that occurs in our spiritual practices, missing time with Christ daily will be agonizing. It will be like missing time with our favorite person or hobby. We will find ways to fit it into our schedule because we are obsessed. We don’t even need external motivation at that point. We also will not feel ridiculed when people find out how much joy we have in our relationship with Christ.

Whatever you love the most, whether it be exercise, delicious meals, hunting, or music, you probably aren’t too concerned when people ridicule you about your passion. But it started small and grew to be a fixation. Most likely, everyone around you knows it’s a thing in your life.

Christ desires to be our first attraction. Our fascination. Our craving. It starts with tasting and seeing and believing He is good. It grows into a craving instead of a chore. Yet, it takes practice. We often all need help in the process of practice. We need a guide and sometimes just a partner or group, so we are not alone. If we can provide support on your journey to learning about God, tell us.