Do you remember learning to read?  If you’re like most children, you learned to read somewhere between kindergarten and second grade.  I taught both grades and loved seeing when the light bulb would come on and a student realized he or she could read a complete sentence.  It was a sweet moment. While there are all sorts of techniques teachers use to help students learn to read, the best way to improve their reading and make them proficient is to have them read. The more they read, the better they become at it. The old adage “Practice makes perfect” is true.
This doesn’t just apply to improving your reading skills.  What area of your faith journey do you want to improve?  Do you listen to others pray and wish you prayed better? If so, then pray more often.  When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray in Luke 11:1-4, He didn’t break out a “to do” list for them.  He had them pray.  The more you pray the more proficient you’ll become.
If worship is the area you want to grow in, then look for opportunities to worship more.  You don’t have to be in a crowd to worship and it doesn’t have to be a formal service. In 2 Samuel 6:12-18, King David proceeded to dance before the Lord in worship celebrating the Ark returning to it’s rightful home.  He didn’t care that others were present watching, possibly judging him.  He was worshipping for an audience of One. Worship is paying honor and glory to God, lavishing Him with your love.  The more you do it, the more natural you’ll become.
Reading the Word daily is a spiritual discipline that will deepen your faith over time.  Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  The Word is used as a tool to teach, correct, guide and direct [2 Timothy 3:16].  The more we read it and plant it in our hearts, the deeper our faith grows.  We then have it to pull from in times of need.  You have to practice anything over time in order for it to become a habit.
Maybe you wish you were more comfortable reaching out to others or praying for others. Practice, practice, practice!  Rarely does anyone do something great the first time. However, dedicated practice over time will bring improvement in almost anything.  Don’t try and take on the world at once.  Choose one area to focus on and begin one step at a time, day after day, and before you know it, you’ll see progress.
What area do you feel you need to focus on? We all need to improve in one area or another.  Which will you choose today?