There’s a distinct discipline required in bullseye pistol shooting—an intense, focused kind of stillness that doesn’t just come from your hand, but from your heart. I’ve been training with the goal of competing in the President’s 100 pistol match, one of the most respected competitions in marksmanship. The physical preparation is demanding, but it’s the mental and spiritual parallels that have surprised me most.
In the silence between shots, I’ve found reflections on faith, on focus, and on following Jesus. Here are some of those lessons.
1. The Closer You Are to the Target, the Easier It Is to Hit It
That may sound obvious, but in bullseye shooting, distance changes everything. At 25 or 50 yards, a fraction of an inch off in your aim becomes inches off on the target. The farther you are, the more exaggerated the mistakes.
The same is true in your walk with God.
The closer you are to Jesus—daily in His Word, attentive in prayer, softened in heart—the easier it is to stay on course. When we drift in spiritual distance, minor compromises can lead to major misses. A little bitterness, a neglected prayer life, or a forgotten Scripture may seem small—until we realize we’re no longer hitting what matters.
James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Spiritual accuracy begins with proximity. Stay close to the Target.
2. Aim Small, Miss Small
A common saying in shooting sports is “Aim small, miss small.” It means if you focus on a precise spot, even if you miss, your miss will be minor. But if your aim is vague or broad, your miss could land far from the intended mark.
Spiritually, it matters where we fix our eyes.
Hebrews 12:2 tells us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” He is not just the big-picture goal—He’s the exact point of focus. When you zero in on Jesus, when your choices and values align precisely with His words, your life doesn’t veer far from the center.
We don’t just aim for “being good” or “doing well.” We aim to walk like Christ, love like Christ, speak like Christ. That level of detail keeps our spiritual misses small.
3. You Can’t Rush the Shot
In bullseye, rushing is the enemy. You can feel the tension of the moment—the clock ticking, your heart racing—but if you force the shot, you’ll yank it off target.
There’s a patience required in both shooting and walking with God. Timing matters.
We often want quick answers, fast progress, immediate relief. But Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” You may be in a season where the shot hasn’t broken yet, where the breakthrough hasn’t come. But trust in the rhythm of God. Wait for the right alignment. Let peace settle before you act.
4. Anticipation Can Throw Everything Off
One of the biggest mistakes shooters make is anticipating the recoil—flinching in advance, dropping the muzzle, or tensing the wrist. It ruins what would have been a perfect shot.
Likewise, we often live with anxious anticipation. We flinch before trials come, brace for impact before God even asks us to move. We anticipate what might go wrong instead of standing firm in what we know is right.
Jesus said, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34). Faith is not about dodging recoil—it’s about staying steady through it, trusting that even if the shot is loud and the impact real, He will steady your hand.
5. Focus Beats Force
In shooting, brute strength doesn’t make you accurate—focus does. You don’t muscle the pistol into the ten ring; you align your sights, control your breath, and press the trigger with calm intention.
In life, we often try to muscle our way through problems—more effort, more stress, more control. But spiritual effectiveness comes from abiding, not striving.
Jesus said in John 15:5, “Apart from Me, you can do nothing.” The fruit doesn’t come from force. It comes from connection. Focus on the vine—stay in Him—and the results will follow.
6. Learn to Call Your Shots
Experienced shooters can “call” their shots—knowing where the bullet landed based on how the sight picture looked at the moment of release. It’s a skill built over time, combining awareness, honesty, and experience.
Spiritually, we grow in discernment in a similar way. The more time you spend with God, the more you recognize when your thinking or behavior is off—before the consequences land.
Hebrews 5:14 says mature believers have “their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” If you’re growing in faith, you’ll begin to call your shots—knowing when you hit truth and when you missed it.
7. Success Is One Shot at a Time
No one wins a match by shooting one great target and coasting through the rest. It’s consistency that wins. One shot. Then another. Then another.
The Christian life is not measured in single mountaintop moments. It’s in daily decisions, small obediences, quiet prayers, hidden integrity.
Jesus said, “Whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful with much.” (Luke 16:10). Don’t underestimate the power of spiritual consistency. Win the small battles. Keep the pattern strong.
8. The Sight Must Be Aligned with the Truth
No matter how still your hands or calm your breath, if your sights are misaligned, you will not hit the center.
It’s not enough to feel good about your aim—it must be aligned with truth. That’s what Scripture does for us. It keeps our spiritual sight picture centered. It shows us what’s real and what’s slightly off, even if it doesn’t feel wrong.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Let God’s Word set your alignment. Otherwise, you’re just aiming in the dark.
Final Thoughts: Stay Close, Stay Focused
Whether you’re preparing for a national match or simply learning to walk closely with Jesus, the truth is the same: you hit what you aim for.
So aim small. Focus on Christ. Take one step of obedience at a time. And know this: you don’t have to be perfect to be effective. You just have to keep your eyes on the Target.
And if you flinch, miss, or fall short? Don’t throw down the pistol. Reset. Re-center. Get back on the line.
Because the real victory comes—not in hitting every shot perfectly—but in returning, refocusing, and keeping your heart steady through the process.
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