Pre-Game Routine
Most serious sports stars have a very particular pre-game routine.
Some routines may seem like silly superstitions: Wayne Rooney eats coco pops, Neil Mckenzie taped his cricket bat to the ceiling, John Terry used the same shin pads for 10 years, Lebron James throws chalk in the air.
Other routines are more intentional: Going to bed early the night before an event, doing a proper warm-up/stretching routine, running a favourite play/move, etc.
After months of training and preparation, these pre-game routines ensure that athletes are fully prepared to focus on the important task before them.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail"
What if we considered our pre-church routine?
How often do we stay up late on Saturday, sleep in on Sunday, scavenge frantically to find our bible, rush to church, and let our minds wander during the service?
Then we wonder why it feels like we haven't had a true worship encounter, often blaming the minister's message or the church itself.
Church is not a sporting event and worship does not happen once a week on a Sunday. However, one of the most powerful ways to experience God's grace is through the word, worship and fellowship at Sunday church worship services.
If we do not make an active effort to take church seriously, we miss out on the opportunity that God puts in front of us to worship together as a community of believers.
Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline, talks about his weekly discipline in preparing for Sunday services.... He spends an hour every Saturday night in prayer and meditation over the scriptures that will be preached at his church the next day. He then retires to his bed at a respectable time to ensure that he is awake and focused for the service the next morning (and this is his routine for when he's NOT preaching!).
We all have different routine's. This post is not intended to be a guide as to how you should prepare for Sunday worship services. However, I believe that it is important to take our preparations for church seriously.
If you feel like your church services have not helped you get intimate with God recently, I want to challenge you to consider the true reason. Is it really because of what the church/minister has or hasn't done? Or is it maybe because you have not been taking your preparation for worship seriously?
"If only you would prepare your heart and lift up your hands to God in prayer"
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| Image Source: Alex Lanting |
Other routines are more intentional: Going to bed early the night before an event, doing a proper warm-up/stretching routine, running a favourite play/move, etc.
After months of training and preparation, these pre-game routines ensure that athletes are fully prepared to focus on the important task before them.
"By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail"
- Benjamin Franklin
What if we considered our pre-church routine?- Benjamin Franklin
How often do we stay up late on Saturday, sleep in on Sunday, scavenge frantically to find our bible, rush to church, and let our minds wander during the service?
Then we wonder why it feels like we haven't had a true worship encounter, often blaming the minister's message or the church itself.
Church is not a sporting event and worship does not happen once a week on a Sunday. However, one of the most powerful ways to experience God's grace is through the word, worship and fellowship at Sunday church worship services.
If we do not make an active effort to take church seriously, we miss out on the opportunity that God puts in front of us to worship together as a community of believers.
Richard Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline, talks about his weekly discipline in preparing for Sunday services.... He spends an hour every Saturday night in prayer and meditation over the scriptures that will be preached at his church the next day. He then retires to his bed at a respectable time to ensure that he is awake and focused for the service the next morning (and this is his routine for when he's NOT preaching!).
We all have different routine's. This post is not intended to be a guide as to how you should prepare for Sunday worship services. However, I believe that it is important to take our preparations for church seriously.
If you feel like your church services have not helped you get intimate with God recently, I want to challenge you to consider the true reason. Is it really because of what the church/minister has or hasn't done? Or is it maybe because you have not been taking your preparation for worship seriously?
Well said Joe. Dig this. (stoked you at like buttons etc.)
ReplyDeleteThanks D! I'll make sure I add a "dig this" button for you in the future 😋
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