Practice Like You Play (& Pray): It Won’t Make You Perfect, But It Will Make You Better

By Pastor Ron Tipton

I remember an interview with Allen Iverson (NBA player – https://youtu.be/tknXRyUEJtU) where he was asked about “practice” and his participation.  His rant ran counter to everything I had ever heard from anyone.  I had heard the instruction that “you play like you practice”.  Iverson’s rant communicated to me a “ego-focused”, “I am better than the others” and “I am already good enough”  attitude.  I would have not wanted him as a teammate, no matter how talented he was or how well he played in games.  

One of the guys I went to college with shared with me that during high school, he was paired with another tennis player on the #1 doubles team.  His partner wouldn’t come before school to practice playing the short volley game at the net because he thought he already had it mastered.  In tournament play they advanced until one game where my friend’s partner made a number of unforced errors at the net, costing them the match.  All because he wouldn’t practice.  

Then today, Amy and I watched the movie “Greater” based on the life story of Brandon Burlsworth.  Needless to say, the message lived out by his life was practice and always doing the right thing.  I would have rather played with and had a guy like this as a teammate – and lose every game, than those that see practice as not worth their time or effort.  I don’t want to ruin the story of this movie (one I would recommend to you, especially if you are an SEC fan), but there were numerous times I looked at Amy and said, “I could have used that clip as an illustration this past Sunday.”

There is a passage I didn’t reference Sunday which is very applicable to the idea of practice.  Philippians 2:12-13: “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.”  

These verses are teaching that you maintain your salvation by your works, for all the work of salvation is done by Christ.  Instead it is teaching that if you are truly saved then there will be transformation done by the Holy Spirit in you as you trust and obey.

As we look to the start of 2025, maybe you are making new resolutions or new goals or whatever you do as the new year begins, make sure you focus on the practice of righteousness and holiness as the most important activity you will engage in this new year.