I’ve been golfing on some level since I was 14 years old when my golfing dad decided to teach me the game. With that amount of time invested, you’d think I’d be on the pro tour by now. Or retired from it. Not so much.
I’ve had seasons in my life when I was pretty decent, shooting about bogey-golf or a little better (for those who know that that means), and I’ve had seasons where I question my sanity for continuing this charade. I’m closer to the latter end of that spectrum now.
While I know all the basics on how to be a good golfer, I’m always amazed at how poorly I consistently incorporate them into my game. Here’s just a sampling of the things that we should keep in mind with our golf swings:
- Don’t hold the club too tightly.
- Turn your wrist over as you swing through the ball.
- Make sure your hand grip is correct.
- Watch your club face on impact.
- Stand the proper distance from the ball.
- Align your body properly to your intended target.
- Keep your left arm straight.
- Shift your weight properly through your swing.
- Control the tempo of your swing.
- KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!
Wouldn’t you think that after 50+ years of golfing, I could get these few “habits” firmly in place?
Let’s just take that last recommendation – keep your head down. I’m constantly, subconsciously taking a peek at what I’m sure will be a glorious shot down the fairway, sometimes resulting in the ball skittering a few yards off the tee box, or being missed altogether. So discouraging, and yet so unavoidable if I would just remember this habit.
My golf instincts are overruled by my emotions and my own willfulness.
Changing gears just a bit, I’ve been working on book #3, hoping to get it published in the next few months. It’s a collection of 52 selected blog posts taken from the past 4-5 years’ worth of posts. The process has caused me to reread a lot of posts multiple times.
I’ve found myself at the same time encouraged by what God had been teaching me, and disappointed that these topics hadn’t become solid biblical “habits.”
Here’s a sampling of the areas where I still need constant reminding from God:
- Letting go of the marvelous kingdom of self
- Learning to stop chewing on bones (running unhealthy scenarios in my head over and over again)
- Enjoying life in the bottom of the pit a little too much
- Having unfair (or any) expectations of others
- Understanding the power of reaching out to others, despite how I feel
- Trusting God with everything in my future
- Having the proper understanding of and posture before God in my prayer life
- Reaping the benefits of being still before God
- How to keep my spiritual tank full
- The danger of making unreasonable comparisons
- Maintaining an eternal perspective
- Not being surprised by the “fiery trials” God promises to us (1 Peter 4:12)
There are so many more I could add. The list could be infinitely longer than my golf swing list!
While I certainly had the best intentions of making these changes in my spiritual walk, my review of the past few years clearly points out that they have not become an integral, natural part of my life. Like my golf swing, my spiritual inclinations are often overruled by my emotions and my willfulness. Yes, it’s discouraging, but should we really be surprised by that?
Of course, the process of sanctification (God using trials to make us more like Christ) isn’t a once-and-done proposition. It is a life-long process until we die. I do know that God reminds me more often than I realize of what he taught me in each post. There is progress, albeit much slower than I would hope.
While taken a bit out of context, I do believe there’s an element of “the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” going on here. I truly want to see all of these lessons become solid habits in my life. But let’s not forget that we still inhabit a sinful body, and we have a heart that doesn’t always want to be obedient to God.
The silver lining in this lackluster performance of mine, is that it properly points me back to Christ in my weakness, knowing that it’s strictly from his power that any of us can develop the spiritual habits that can help us on our Christian walk.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you
will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
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