Whenever you have not done something in a while, the first few attempts are nowhere near perfect. It often takes multiple efforts over several days before the actions we once knew so well begin to feel normal again.

Picking up an instrument after years without playing it can be painful to hear. Watching a sports star return from an injury that kept them sidelined for months rarely results in them returning to their preinjury form immediately.

When someone steps up to read the Bible, I can immediately tell whether they do it regularly. If someone is forced into a situation where they are required to pray publicly, it is quickly apparent if they have prayed much lately. Often it occurs with people whom I know were once very close to God in their spiritual walk.

The good news is that if you keep making an effort, your performance will eventually improve. A commitment to doing the work is evident in the long run.

Sometimes, when I hear someone read or pray, I can tell they are out of practice, but then I smile because I know that if they commit to doing the work, this will be the first step on a road to improvement.

It’s okay if you feel out of practice with spiritual things; you can keep doing them until it feels normal again.