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

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

MY PIANO TEACHERS balanced my seasonal repertoire by including both music that could be easily mastered and scores that were nearly impossible. Having a few numbers that I could get my arms around kept me engaged, entertained, and confident. Having a few that challenged me—well—that mostly just made me nuts.

I would refuse to be beaten by a piece of music. So sometimes when I practiced, I would concentrate my entire practice time on one piece of music—the hard one. The one that challenged me; the piece that made me feel inadequate; the score that threatened my self-esteem. I would sometimes literally yell out loud in total frustration.

I think we should know it’s okay to do the same with prayer. It’s okay to be honest when you’ve had a bad day, when you’re not sure of God’s direction, when life has you pinned up by your ears. And I think it’s okay that you sometimes express your anger and frustration with God. At times prayer is a clearing of the air. And if you can’t be honest with him, can you really be honest with anyone?

Pray, then, in this way: “Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”(Matthew 6:9-13, NASB)

Practice makes perfect? I have no proof of that. But I do have proof that prayer delivers direction, joy, peace, and contentment—especially if you take the direct approach.