The Piano Lesson - Practice, Practice, Practice (Part Deux)

The Piano Lesson - Practice, Practice, Practice (Part Deux)

TICK. TICK. Tick. Tick. The metronome would sit on my piano waving her little hand at me, taunting me. For years, I thought she was just evil.

As I matured and technology improved, I replaced the wicked little thing with a sleek black compact electronic baby. You could turn off the sound on this one and just watch the light blink to help ensure you were playing to the correct tempo. This one was only a wee bit mean compared to her predecessor.

When I pulled the metronome out for practice, I meant business. I was focused, and the objective of my practice was to improve my performance. Once I set my metronome, I would focus intently on each note, each beat—striving, desiring to become a better musician. Sometimes I was successful. Sometimes I was not.

Likewise, there are times when you go to God with a specific desire. You mean business too. And like the results of focused piano practice, you might get the outcome you want or you might get the outcome he intends for you to have. In her book I Told the Mountain to Move, Patricia Raybon shares a story about her daughter’s conversion to the Muslim faith. She writes:

O my people, trust in him at all times.Pour out your heart to him,for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)

Are you turning yourself inside out with your prayer life? Are you getting out the metronome every time you pray? Might be time to put that baby up for a while and just trust him.