Practice Makes...

Do you remember as a kid being told that practice makes perfect? Whether it was an instrument, a sport, or your homework. The theory behind it was that the more you do the thing, the easier it will become. Something called muscle memory will take over and it will almost become second nature to you. But how long does it take for something like that to happen? That debate has been going on for decades. In the 1960s a self help book came out where one particular doctor came to the conclusion based on observations of his patients that it takes about 21 days to get used to something new. From that observation the myth of the 21 day timeline developed. However, the more you dive into that idea, the less it holds up in everyday life. Research today shows that the “three week theory” needs some adjustment.

The reality is that each of us is created uniquely. We all can’t fit into the same box. Some habits take us longer. And a research study done in 2009 on habit creation found that when you are in the process of creating a new habit, it could range anywhere from 18 to 254 days. The average time across the study was 66 days to incorporate a new activity with any sense of reliability. That’s quite a range when you think about it.

So what’s the key to healthy habits? How do we develop rhythms that we can stick to? The key that the research shows and, really, what we learned as kids was simply… practice. The more you engage in the practice of the activity, the more it will come to be a part of your routine. So why don’t we apply that to our faith? Or to how we communicate with God? Can we say that we have a consistent life of prayer? For many of us, we just don’t know where to begin. Jesus gave us a starting point. A format to reach out and communicate with God. According to the author Luke, Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Jesus said, “This is how you should pray: “Father, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. Give us each day the food we need, and forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. And don’t let us yield to temptation (Luke 11:1-4 NLT).”

These words have been used over and over as a way to pray. When we don’t have the words, we can use Scripture to guide us. Use a psalm to lead you into communication with God. The truth is, if we want to create the habit of a prayerful life, then we need to practice. It’s about the consistency of our practice not a three week theory. It may take 18 days. It may take 254. But the consistent effort to come to the Lord in prayer will develop into a rhythm of your life that you won’t regret. It will transform your heart. And will transform your life.

Practice makes progress. Why not begin today?