DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL MUSCLE MEMORY

 

Philippians 4:9 (NIV)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

I like to watch football and baseball. I am constantly amazed at the skill of those who play the game well. A quarterback steps back to pass. He is surrounded by defensive players all trying to tackle him. Just before they get to him, he sends a perfect spiral down the field to a wide receiver who extends his arms and pulls in the pass. It seems effortless at times. The bases are loaded. The game is on the line. A player steps to the plate and awaits the pitcher’s first offering. It is close but just outside. He refuses to swing. The next pitch comes in a little low, but right over the edge of the plate. He swings and connects, sending the ball flying over the fence for a grand slam.

When we watch these amazing athletes, we are tempted to think that they just have natural talent that allows them to do what they do. Although natural talent plays a part, it is only the starting point. The ability for these athletes to perform at such a high level is the product of hours and hours of practice. The quarterback spends hours throwing balls to his receivers in order to refine his throw. The hitter spends hours in the batting cage perfecting his swing. They are developing what is called muscle memory, which allows them to perform under pressure without having to think about the mechanics of what they are doing.

As followers of Christ, we can learn an important lesson from these amazing athletes. If we want to perform well under pressure, we need to develop spiritual muscle memory. We need to practice the components of godly living when we are not being put to the test. The more we consciously practice living as Jesus would have us live, the less we will have to think about how to respond when the pressure is on.  

Throughout church history, people have used spiritual disciplines to shape their lives, just as athletes use practice to train for the game. The goal is to so infuse our lives with godly character that we will naturally respond in a godly way. If we have not practiced spiritual skills in advance, when the pressure is on, we will fail.

Paul set an example for the people of Philippi when he told them to observe what he did and then practice those things for themselves. We too can learn from watching others who have performed well spiritually and follow their example. But just knowing what to do is not enough. We have to practice those skills over and over until they become a part of our life.

Spiritual muscle memory comes as we intentionally practice character building activities in our life. As we make the effort, over and over again, to live like Jesus, our character and life will be shaped. Our actions will conform to those things we practice the most.

Paul makes the point that just as physical training is a benefit to us, so spiritual training is of even more benefit. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

Paul fleshes out some of the training exercises that we should include in our daily lives. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:9-13 (NIV) Each of these practices can develop our spiritual muscles so that we respond appropriately in any situation.

A key area where we need to develop spiritual muscle memory is in prayer.  Too often for us prayer is an afterthought. We pray when we feel challenged or when we are facing a difficult situation. But we have not made prayer a regular part of our daily life. Paul calls us to make the practice of prayer a regular part of our daily lives. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) If we are to develop spiritual muscle memory in prayer, we have to pray often, pray broadly, and pray intentionally on a regular basis. We cannot wait for the crisis to come before we pray. Prayer needs to be an integral part of our daily life, so that we can draw upon it when the crisis comes.

Prayer is just one example of a spiritual discipline that needs to be a part of our spiritual training regimen. There are many other spiritual skills that we need to develop as we progress on our spiritual journey: service, solitude, giving, fasting, study, etc. The key is practice, practice, practice. The more that we actually, intentionally practice the skills of godly living, the more they will become a natural part of our life. We will develop spiritual muscle memory so that when the time comes, we will respond in the right way, without having to think about the mechanics of what we are doing.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)