Practice Makes Perfect
2 Corinthians 7:1 Therefore. . .let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
Perfection: Coming to Completion
During the first part of my experience with COVID 19 restrictions I began taking guitar lessons. As an almost 60-year-old I found learning this new skill quite challenging and wasn’t sure I would ever be able to ‘bring to completion’ my goal of leading our church’s Sunday School in a few songs each week. But, as with anything else, practicing regularly makes a huge difference and I am getting better. Almost two years later my husband (who also decided he wanted to learn the new skill of playing bass guitar) asked me if I’d play a song with him in worship one Sunday during Lent! I said yes and have been practicing
regularly to be able to ‘bring to completion’ this new goal.
I’ve recently realized that practicing applies to my walk with Jesus as well as my efforts to live a well-balanced life. Each challenge, trial or temptation is an opportunity to ‘practice’ trusting Him and responding as Jesus would. Each interaction with someone provides an opportunity to seek His direction and honor Him in my time with lasix-info.net.
When I daily focus my heart, mind, and energy on myself I am practicing and perfecting self-centeredness. But as I seek the Lord and His will, and daily act accordingly, I am practicing and perfecting Christlikeness. With His help I am ‘perfecting holiness out of reverence for God’, that others might see, and glorify Him!
Reflection: What are you practicing that strengthens your faith, blesses others, and glorifies God?
Dear Lord, Please bring to completion the work that You have begun in my life, to Your glory. Amen.
Shawn Maassel
Shawn began taking Body & Soul® classes as a student in 1990 after her first child was born. Years later, after a move and transition to full-time church work, she became a Body & Soul® instructor in order to bring the ministry and classes to her new church. She has been leading classes since 2003 in Huntingtown, Maryland and enjoys being part of Body & Soul’s Spiritual Impact Team. Shawn and her husband have three grown children and one grandson across the country.
Body and Soul® Fitness is an international Christian fitness organization that trains and equips instructors to lead a variety of group fitness programs including choreographed aerobics-style Cardio Strength & Flexibility™, cardio dance style Dance Blast™, free-weights-focused Power Strength™, boot camp style FIT360™ and Longevity FIT360™, and GOLD™ - lower impact programming for participants that are pregnant, have weight challenges, injuries, or other medical conditions. These exercise classes meet in church gyms, community centers, gymnasiums, parking lots, schools, etc. across the United States, Europe, and Africa. In-person and virtual fitness classes are available.
Key words: Christian fitness, women's exercise classes, group fitness, dance aerobics classes, Christian group fitness, Christian fitness app, FitTV, Body & Soul, Body and Soul, fitness instuctor training, low impact exercise
