Use It or Lose It

I’ve recently re-started my training regimen (more like re-re-re-started), of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, muay thai, and boxing. Usually when I’ve been off of training for a while I like to start with some light sparring to see where I am and what I need to improve on. My recent sparring sessions have been an eye opener! My reaction time is much slower, my footwork is very clumsy, and I had a hard time imposing my will on my opponent whether standing up or grappling.

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Larry Staab teaches many coaching and physical education classes and often uses the old maxim, “use it or lose it.” Simply put, if you refuse to stay active in the sport of your choice you will eventually fail to excel at it. Any coach or martial arts instructor I’ve ever worked with has, in one way or another, told me nothing can replace gym time. Honestly, many times the difference between competitors who lose and win is the effort and time they put in at training. Many times fights are not determined by the technical knowledge but by the training discipline of a fighter.

I think that many areas of life are similar, if we refuse to do the things that make us successful in those areas we eventually fail. There are certain things as Christians we can never neglect otherwise we will see deterioration in our skill to live life to at its fullest.

1) Bible Study

Joshua 1:8  “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

We need to understand how God intends for us to live, and we will never understand that to the best of our abilities without study and meditation of the scriptures. Our relationships and ministries fail many times because we are not following the principle of seeking Biblical wisdom.

Wisdom is found in the constant seeking of truth. I don’t know if we will ever come to the place where study is not necessary. Study exposes us to truths we’ve never encountered or different applications of truths we’ve known for years.

Proverbs 3:35  “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”

2) Conscience Application of Biblical Truth

Matthew 7:24  “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”

Along with the seeking of Biblical knowledge and wisdom is the effort to live out the truths we’ve discovered. There are hundreds of sports analysts and fight fans who have a head knowledge of many techniques used in brazilian jiu-jitsu and MMA. They know the difference between the omoplata shoulder lock and the gogoplata chokehold, however they lack a real practical knowledge because they do not train. They do not apply the head knowledge to real life action.

James admonishes us that “faith without works is dead.” We must act out forgiveness, love, compassion, mercy, patience, charity, praying for the sick, exhorting, teaching and preaching, etc… The Bible must be my standard of operations. I must let its principles and commands determine my daily actions.

3) Listening to Bible Preaching

1Corinthians 1:21 “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

There are many reasons to listen to Bible preaching. One of the best reasons to listen to others preaching is that you get to use their brain and their study time to learn more Bible truth. You will not be limited by your comprehension abilities, and your study skills if you will listen to others teach on the Bible. This should not replace your own personal study but is just another training tool in your spiritual gym. Be humble enough to admit that there may be other people out there who understand some portions of scripture better than you do.

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