The first couple of frames were atrocious. Atrocious might not be a strong enough word. The problem was my follow through. My arm kept going across to the left, and consequently so did my ball. Kadunk. Kadunk. Kadunk. Kadunk.
Slowly my game picked up, and my follow through improved. In most sports follow through is a huge aspect. Batters have to follow through completely if the ball is going to go past the pitcher. Bunting might be the exception. Follow through effects the trajectory of a golf ball. Tennis players follow through. It is a fundamental of most sports. And so it is with the spiritual life.
Follow through. Each Sunday we gather, listen to a sermon, and commit to living out the Christian life. But then Monday morning comes and we have to drive down I-35. A challenge that would cause most to stumble. Would Jonathan Edwards have been the Jonathan Edwards we know if he had to navigate the 35 corridor? (just kidding)
Then the love we vowed to show our neighbor results in cutting off the driver that just cut us off. What's the problem? Lack of follow through. We don't follow through on our commitments. We don't follow through on our promises, and we don't follow through on the Christian ethic Jesus set for us in the Sermon on the Mount.
Follow through sounds a lot like faith and works. Follow through is what my sister calls "showing up." Actually doing what we believe. Follow through amounts to not being just a bunch of hot air.
Tips to follow through:
Be accountable to someone. When you feel challenged in an area, find someone you trust to hold you accountable to living your faith.
Place little reminders around your house. Post-it notes on the restroom mirror. Notes on the refrigerator. Tie a string around your finger. That kind of stuff.
Memorize scripture that relates to your area of growth. How we think and act are directly related.
I'm sure there are a lot more tips available, but that's enough to follow through on.
1 comment:
Practice, practice, practice...
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