Many years ago, I performed in the musical Godspell, singing the song All Good Gifts. When we started rehearsing the show, I was unable to hit all of the notes in the chorus, so the musical director changed the notes a bit so that I could sing the song. The theatre company I was working with ended up performing the show in several locations over the course of a year. During that time, I was also taking vocal lessons, practicing my craft so that my voice would become better and stronger. I soon learned the truth in the saying, “Practice makes perfect.” After a few months of vocal practice and performing, those notes that had been too high for me became easy, as my vocal range had expanded.
In his letter to the church in Philippi, Paul encourages the believers to follow his example. He tells them to take all of the things that they have learned, received, and heard from him and to put them into practice (Philippians 4:9). He urged them to rejoice in the Lord. No matter what circumstances they found themselves in, they should rejoice. They should not be anxious about anything but, with prayer and thanksgiving, they should present their requests to God (Philippians 4:4-6). They should focus their hearts and minds on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable.
I believe that Paul would have agreed with the saying that practice makes perfect. And, although none of us will ever be perfect, when we practice these things in our lives, when we follow the example that Paul set, not just for the Philippians, but for all of us, we will achieve something that is perfect. We will achieve the perfect peace that only God can give. In Philippians 4:9, Paul says that when we practice these things, the God of peace will be with us. When it comes to our walk with God, practice makes perfect peace.
A Worshiper's Journal 