Shalom everyone! We may have used or said the word practice in many contexts such as: baseball practice, piano practice, medical practice, choir practice, track or football practice – you name it! A common phrase that goes with the word practice is “practice makes perfect”. But does it?
I heard an alternative to the phrase “practice makes perfect” while listening to a voice coach who instructed that whatever we were practicing, whether good or bad, would become permanent. Thus, “practice makes permanent”; the idea being to practice the techniques of correct posture, breathing, vocal exercises, physical rest, hydration etc., because you are a vocal athlete. If the right training is practiced it will become permanent. So, what is practice?
noun 1.1
the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method, as opposed to theories relating to it. Ex: “the principles and practice of teaching” Similar: application, exercise, use, operation, implementation execution, enactment, action, doing, make use of, put to use, utilize apply employ put into effect/operation – draw on, bring into play
2. 2
the customary, habitual, or expected procedure or way of doing of something. Ex: “current nursing practice”
verb 1.1
perform (an activity) or exercise (a skill) repeatedly or regularly in order to improve or maintain one’s proficiency. Ex: “I need to practice my French” – Similar: rehearse, run through, go through, go over, work on, work at, repeat, polish, refine, perfect, train, prepare, exercise – drill, work out, warm up, go through one’s paces, – keep one’s hand in, get into shape, do exercises, study
1. 2
carry out or perform (a particular activity, method, or custom) habitually or regularly. Ex: “we still practice some of these rituals today” – Similar: carry out, perform, do, observe, put into practice, execute (1)
While by no means exhaustive, the Oxford definitions (nouns and verbs) with examples in sentences and synonyms are just a glimpse into the word practice. The Hebrew word Asah has, within it, the synonym practice and many other words, but its root meaning is “to do or make”. (2)
There are practices of evil and good. The Holy Scriptures clearly invite us to choose good vs evil as Deuteronomy 28 gives a list of blessings or curses depending on what we choose to do, based on the understanding we have of the Scriptures. Through His Apostles, Jesus instructs us to be “doers” of the Law (instruction of His Word) and “not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (Rom 2:13; James 1:22). In other words, we have to “practice” correct instruction because it is what we are becoming.
You may have heard this in conversation or something similar: “I’m Catholic but I’m not really practicing”, or “I’m Christian but I don’t go to church any more”, or “I only go a few times a year, or I’m agnostic, or I’m a Muslim or I don’t believe.” There may be a lot of valid reasons for all those scenarios, but what is common among them is that they are all practicing.
What the Early Church practiced (before 325 A.D.) is what the Voice of Healing Ministries practices. The Didache and the Apostolic Constitution with Apostolic teachings, are the purest instructions Christ gave to His Church, which brings miraculous changes to the “Spirit soul and body” (1 Thess 5:23). I and many others have personally experienced these changes; visit our testimonies page for more. Examples include but are not limited to, cancers being healed, spina bifida corrected, scoliosis healed, dyslexia healed, paralytic walking, meth addicts, after years of abuse, set free in days, dead children resurrected and more.
Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” to do the signs, and speak His language (tongues), “cast out demons” and “lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16:16-18). This is the doing! But is it? Jesus also said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’”
Matthew 7:23, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” (Emphasis applied).
That is a sobering word from Jesus! So, what are you practicing? It’s becoming permanent!
Until next time, blessings.
Dr Roni
References:
- Oxford Language Dictionary, “practice”
- Strong’s Bible Dictionary, “asah” H6213
- All Scripture references New King James Version