Psyren Devotional: Why Believers Keep Training in Faith

Psyren makes the case for spiritual disciplines: Yoshina has to train to survive, and so does our faith. Here’s what that looks like in real life.

Blog Version

In the new Crunchyroll anime Psyrn, you’re dropped right into the middle of a lot of action and a strange mystery. You don’t know what’s going on. Yoshina doesn’t know what’s going on. He’s the main character. He’s just thrown into things. You’re just thrown into the deep end, and you’re flailing and hoping that you keep up. It’s not an anime you can sit and play video games during and keep tracking, just so you know.

At the end of episode three, we get somewhat of an explanation as to what’s going on. Matsuri, the character who knows what’s up, is introduced in episode three. She explains what’s happening to a degree. She doesn’t know everything either, but she knows more than we know.

She tells Yoshina that until they get called back to Psyren, they have to train their abilities. That they’ve just obtained. That they didn’t know they’d obtained. She told them, “Hey, this happened to you. You need to train and grow stronger so you can survive your next game.”

Why training in Psyren sounds like the Christian life

Now this made me go, “Huh. That’s similar to how we function as Christians.” Not that we’re gonna be thrown into a game where we might die, but Matsuri knows what needs to happen because she trained.

As believers, when we first accept Christ, we don’t know much, and no one expects us to. If they do, they’re dumb. But we have to practice and grow stronger in things like prayer and reading Scripture. While these things may not save our physical lives, they do help us survive and thrive spiritually.

First Timothy says this:

“Have nothing to do with irreverent silly myths. Rather, train yourself for godliness. For while bodily training is of some value, godliness is a value in every way as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive because we have our hopes set on the living God who is the Savior of all people, especially to those who believe. Command and teach these things.”

Paul is telling Timothy, “Hey, you need to study to grow spiritually.” And there are always more ways to grow. The longer you are in the faith, the longer that you are believing in Christ, the more there are ways to grow.

And sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re growing because things are good. And then somebody comes and ruins your day, and you’re like, “Mmm, old me would have slapped you. But godly me says, “I’m gonna let Jesus handle you.” Because if I do, it’s not gonna be pretty.” Sometimes we have to grow. We always have room to grow.

How do we train spiritually?

It’s important that we keep steady with the disciplines, that we pray, that we study the Scripture, that we do more than just read it.

I can read a book, and I can understand nothing that’s going on. And I’ll remember nothing. I might enjoy the vibes of it, but I’m not gonna remember it. It’s not gonna change my life. If I read Scripture with the intent to learn, that will change my life.

And having someone who is further along in the faith to help you, to go, “Hey, what are you studying? Hey, how’s your prayer life?” Not to demean you or put you down or make you feel guilty, but just to go, “Hey, somebody other than you and God knows about this. How’s it going? Do you need help? How can I help you?” It’s so vital.

Keep the basics, no matter how long you’ve believed.

And these are the things that you have to think about. No matter where you are in your walk, these are important. These are the basics. These are the things that you need to work on, because no matter how long you’ve been doing this, sometimes it’s easier to go, “You know what? I’m gonna sleep in instead of doing my Scripture.” Or, “You know what? I’m gonna listen to an audiobook instead of doing my Bible reading.” Or, “You know what? I don’t want to sit here and pray for a minute. I’ll do it as I go.” There’s nothing wrong with that, but intentionality is also good.