Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then, you will be prosperous and successful. (Joshua 1:8, NIV)
Tour pros often talk about ‘the process.’ They have a certain way of doing things they hope will lead to positive results. It starts off the course with physical fitness, proper nutrition, and adequate rest.
Taking ‘the process’ to the course continues with reps on the range, countless practice rounds, and the pre-shot routine.
I like to think I have a pre-shot routine, but reality proves otherwise. I remember a proof point from the 2017 member-guest at my home club. To protect his identity, we’ll say my partner’s name rhymes with Ike Curnett.
“Curney” and I won our flight and made it to the championship shootout. Anybody who has played in one of these knows the fun and the fear that makes the conclusion of these events special.
We advanced through the first playoff hole (#10), and after two good alternate shots on #18, ‘Curney’ had a 20-footer for us to move on. His putt came to rest just outside the tape, so I stepped up to knock in the almost-gimme.
If this had been a ‘normal’ round, I would have taken my time, given it a good read, and confidently stepped up. However, with an amphitheater crowd chirping in my head and swing juice flowing in my veins (don’t judge me), I rushed it. I rushed it right past the hole without touching the cup!
Ugh. Tournament over. Three days of work down the drain with one bad stroke. The only solace in my disappointment was that I was the one who got us eliminated and not my guest.
Thankfully, golf is just a game; no nickname was generated from my blunder. What’s not a game is this thing called life. It is a gift from God, and we are to use it wisely.
For those who have committed their hearts and minds to Jesus Christ, there is no question about the crux of our ‘life process.’ It can be found in today’s verse: “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:8).
Let’s be clear: this is not to say you will climb the corporate ladder and win your member-guests, but it does mean you will lead a life pleasing to God and reduce self-inflicted guilt.
Like our inability to find that repeatable swing, retention is a problem in our faith walks. The brother of Jesus described it well, “Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:23-25).
I often hear that Christianity is confining, but as James just pointed out, it is freeing if we adhere to the Bible’s ‘process.’
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22).
Prayer: Lord, help us keep your Book of the Law always on our lips, and remind us to listen to the word and do what it says.