By Ben Pirtle

Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” 1 Samuel 16:11

Practice makes perfect. Chances are you’ve heard these words countless times throughout your life. Whether it was in Little League or at the piano in the living room, these words were uttered as a reminder that you reap what you sow. I’m not entirely sure that practice alwaysmakes perfect…take cab drivers, for example. But nevertheless, how you train does determine how skillfully you behave when circumstances call for your best.

When I was 21 years old, I grew discontent with my career as a pharmaceutical sales rep. I knew God had a calling on my life for ministry, and I was frustrated with my lack of clarity and direction. This uncertainty of what the future held led me to worry, stress, and fear. Eventually, I scheduled a meeting with my pastor to share my heart and hear his advice on what I should do. I was hoping he would give me direction, like, “go to graduate school” or “enroll in seminary”…something clear and obvious. To my surprise, that didn’t happen. 

Instead, he asked me a single question: “Do you know that God is calling you to do His work?” I told him that I did, and then sat on the edge of my seat eagerly waiting to hear this man of God tell me what my next step should be. But all he said was, “Practice.” I waited for him to finish the rest of the sentence, but my waiting turned into an awkward silence. Finally, realizing that he was finished, I responded, “Practice? That’s all you’re going to tell me…practice?” His response to my sarcasm changed my life forever. He simply said, “Ben, your preparation years are a gift that you must take advantage of in order to be most effective when your calling is revealed. Once you step into your calling, you can’t prepare any more, because you’re already there!” 

Then he said, “Now go and practice, so that when God’s timing is revealed, you will be ready.” I walked out of his office that day not knowing what opportunities the future held, but knowing that I was going to do everything within my power to be ready when they presented themselves. I studied my Bible more. I looked for opportunities to witness. I cut out a lot of the “fluff” in my life and worked at sharpening myself, so I could be an effective instrument in the hand of God when He was ready to use me.

The Bible tells us that when the prophet Samuel went to Jesse to anoint one of his sons as the next king of Israel, David was nowhere to be found. When asked if he had any more sons to consider, Jesse replied, “There is still the youngest, but he is out caring for the sheep” (1 Samuel 16:11). David was out in the fields keeping order in a chaotic environment. He was leading and feeding sheep. He was protecting and guiding sheep. David’s days consisted of leading a relatively dumb creature towards safety, comfort, food, and life. David was caring for a helpless animal, not knowing that his preparation and practice would soon be necessary for his future on the throne when he would lead an entire nation of God’s people in much the same way.

It wasn’t until 25 years later, after many trials, death threats, and battles, that David actually sat on the throne. He was called and notified of his future leadership role as a young person, but those next 25 years were necessary preparation for the important role that he would play with God’s people. Goliath was defeated by a sling and stone, because the precise aim and confidence required to defeat the giant was developed, honed, and sharpened in the fields as David shepherded sheep. The music David played to calm the stressed-out King Saul was composed and perfected in the mountains under the stars with no audience except God and sheep.

How can you prepare today for what God has for your future? Wherever you are and whatever you do, I encourage you to do it with all of your heart unto the Lord, trusting that every step you take is a gift from your “Trainer” to equip you for your calling. When you have the choice to spend time with God or skip and be lazy, choose to spend time with Him. When you have the opportunity to show someone the love of Christ through a simple act, do it…even if it’s inconvenient. 

When you’re faced with temptation to sin and you arrive at the critical moment of decision, remember that you are in training for greatness and choose to obey God. You might not realize it, but your actions are leading you towards the skills you will need for the future. Your preparation today is your most trusty piece of equipment in the struggles and trials of tomorrow.

Today, I pastor many people, and I love it! But what I do today has come as a direct result of how I responded to my pastor’s call to prepare with all my heart for what God had in store for me.

Wherever you are right now, don’t be discouraged. Get prepared! Soon, you’re going to walk in God’s calling. He is going to use you, so prepare with all of your heart. And when the task comes before you, you will be the sharpest instrument in the hand of God, ready to skillfully carry out His plan!

If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I would spend six sharpening my axe.
~ Abraham Lincoln

Memory Verse

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole. Ephesians 4:11–13