I listened to a podcast today about practicing and how to do it well. It mentioned a study in which people mentally practiced a skill (in this particular study it was throwing free throw shots) instead of actually doing it each time. Those who practiced mentally performed as well as those who practiced physically.
There’s actually a spiritual application to this thought. Have you ever heard this quote by C. S. Lewis?”
“Do not waste time bothering whether you 'love' your neighbor; act as if you did. As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. When you are behaving as if you loved someone, you will presently come to love him.”
Take that one step further. Mentally practice loving someone you don’t find lovable. Think about what that would look like — even if you haven’t been able to make yourself do it. It may just lead you to acting like you love someone and eventually loving a very unlovable person …. Maybe this is how to fulfill the command in this statement of Jesus in Matthew 5:
You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.
Because after all …. We can’t tell people that Jesus loves them until we are ready to love them too…
https://youtu.be/TvXAojrVehs
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