How many really like to train?

I know many people that like to work out, that’s not what I mean.  Working out is further developing what is already there.  It can be showing off, to yourself or to others, just how far you’ve come.  Training, at least what I think is being referred to here, is taking someone who doesn’t know anything, who is terrible at something, and helping them get good at it.

That’s the part that I hate.

I know this will come as a shock to you (unless you’ve seen me play) but music is hard work for many of us.  I don’t hear a lead once and then play it flawlessly.  I don’t hear it and play it twenty times and play it flawlessly.  I have to practice over and over and over and over.

As I think about this, I realize I am borrowing some from Freedom Ministries (if you haven’t heard of it, it is well worth checking into – http://gatewaypeople.com/ministries/freedom-kairos/media1).

I have played with those who get frustrated with me because I don’t just “get it”.  I have to hear it, play it, hear it again, play it again.  It takes forever.

Where do you think God falls on this spectrum?  What I see from scripture is a God who says we need training.  We need discipline.  We need grace.  “The fruit of His Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control,” words that all convey the type of God He is and how He sees us.

Do you feel like you are “getting it”?  Are you doing life “right”?  Have you arrived at some level of spiritual perfection?

Me neither.

Remember, we are His children.  We can fail, try again and fail again and we’re still His.

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

I’ll keep practicing but I think I’ll let God worry about my perfection.  He’s my dad. His opinion is the only one I have to answer to.

And He loves me.