1st Chronicles chapter 12. Practice. Practice. Practice.
Greetings Everyone!! Keep being a blessing and keep being a mighty warrior for Jesus!
The warriors who left Saul in order to fight with David numbered 336,500 fighting men.
Most of these men were very well trained. Like unbelievably trained. There were some who could shoot a stone in a sling both right and left handed. Some were amazingly good with a spear and shield, or bow and arrow. Some were fierce and quick.
To become this good means they had to practice practice practice and practice. To become good at anything you have to practice practice practice practice practice.
I love running but to be a good runner I have to practice practice practice practice. To be good at any sport, you have to practice practice practice practice practice.
This means being self-disciplined. This means taking the time, making sacrifices so one can practice. It means being determined so that you let nothing get in the way. Determination is able to overcome excuses for not training.
Let's apply this spiritually. To be a mighty warrior for Jesus, one must take time daily, even if it means making sacrifices. One must be self-disciplined and determined so that no excuses are made, which are easy to do. It means reading, meditating, studying, or memorizing. It means surrendering daily to the Holy Spirit so as to allow the Holy Spirit to change us daily and conform us more and more into the image of God.
As one practices with sports and becomes noticeably different and better at it, so one who studies the scriptures with self discipline and determination also become noticeably transformed by the Holy Spirit so people see you looking more and more like Jesus.
My heart prayer is short and simple: Dear Lord, transform me please!
We read in verse 32 about men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do and there were all the other descriptions in this chapter of the men who were ready for battle. It seemed to me to be a great highpoint in Israel’s history when David became king as this chapter concluded with these words “for there was joy in Israel.”
May we experience the joy that Jesus has for us when we allow Him to be the King of our lives.
Psalm 98:4-6
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises! Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody! With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord!”