Formed by the Game: 30 Days of Seeing God in the Liturgies of SportSample

The Practice

Practice is often the most overlooked part of sport. It can feel repetitive, exhausting, and even boring. Early mornings in the gym, hours of drills on the field, and countless repetitions of the same play are the unseen moments that shape performance when the spotlight is on. Athletes grind through them, coaches stress over progress, and parents cheer from the sidelines, often without witnessing the incremental growth. Practice becomes one of the most formative liturgies of sport—teaching discipline, patience, and perseverance through repetition.

But the liturgy of practice can also be distorted. Sport culture often teaches that practice has value only if it leads to visible results. If it doesn’t translate to wins, trophies, or personal accolades, then it feels wasted. This mindset can tempt athletes to cut corners, lose focus, or resent the process. Instead of shaping character, practice becomes a burden to endure rather than a rhythm that forms resilience and humility.

Spiritually, the lesson is strikingly similar. Jesus reminds us that faithfulness in the small, ordinary tasks prepares us for greater responsibilities. “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10). God often works quietly through the repetitive, unseen acts of obedience—reading Scripture, praying consistently, showing kindness, and exercising integrity in daily interactions. These spiritual “practices” may not feel glamorous, but they are the training ground for deeper maturity. Just as no athlete can skip practice and expect to perform at their best, no believer can ignore the daily rhythms of spiritual growth and expect faith to flourish.

Next time you lace up for a practice, hit the weights, or go through drills that feel monotonous, let it become a liturgical reminder. God is shaping your character through the ordinary. Every small act of faithfulness matters. What feels routine today is building strength, resilience, and readiness for tomorrow.

Practice teaches us that discipline, humility, and consistency are not wasted—they are essential. The unseen moments matter most because they prepare us for the seen. When practice is embraced with gratitude, it reflects the faithfulness of God who patiently shapes us day by day.

Prayer:
“Father, help me to be faithful in the ordinary, to embrace the small moments of discipline and obedience, and to trust that You are shaping me for greater things. Amen.”