We’ve all heard the old saying, “He who fails to plan for the future is planning to fail in the future”. One famous military leader said, “Getting ready is half the battle”. Dear friend you don’t wait until a crisis come to prepare for it, you prepare for it because you know it’s coming. In reminding us of the need to prepare, Dr. Paul Chappell writes:

“It took less than ten seconds for Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt to cover the one hundred meter distance on the Olympic track and win the gold medal in London. Those few seconds cemented his status as the “fastest man alive” and placed him on the winner’s podium once again. But the race was not won in those seconds—it was won by hours and hours of practice, workouts, weightlifting, special diet, and coaching.

The race was not won in the performance but in the preparation. It is our desire for something greater that causes us to sacrifice some things, even some good things, for the sake of things that are better. The famous football coach Bear Bryant said, “The difference between success and failure is not the will to win. Everyone has the will to win. Not everyone has the will to do what it takes to prepare to win.” The level of commitment that we make beforehand determines the success of our efforts.

Think of Daniel, a teenage boy taken hundreds of miles from home and subjected to a brainwashing program designed to break down his allegiance to his homeland and his God. But long before the temptations came, Daniel “had purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).

Because of Daniel’s preparation, no amount of persuasion, threat, or pressure could overcome his commitment to God. His dedication was unshakeable. For example, when Daniel’s enemies got the decree passed that outlawed prayers to anyone other than the king of Persia, Daniel still prayed three times a day. He did not start praying when the law was passed, instead he continued his habit of prayer “as he did aforetime” (Daniel 6:10).

Our character is not made when we are put to the test; it is simply revealed then. Our character is made long before the test ever comes.—-

At the beginning of each new year there is one word that we hear again and again–that word is “Happy”. And, although the phrase “Happy New Year” dies out in a few days, the search for happiness continues on throughout the year. Man never stops looking for it and, strangely enough, never really finds it. He discovers something that gives him a thrill and thinks he has struck gold, but it turns out to be fools gold. Then the thrill is gone and the search starts all over again.

Have you noticed—most people aren’t happy unless they are doing things enjoy? Few have learned to enjoy the things they do. Guess which ones are the happiest? For the former joy depends on circumstances. For the latter joy depends on choices. You can’t always control the first, but you can control the second. Guess which is the best. If you can’t be happy with what you have you won’t be happy when you get what you want, because you never stop wanting.

Here’s something you need to be aware of. The choice of the joy-finder isn’t, strictly speaking, a choice to be joyful. It is instead a choice to yield themselves to the Holy Spirit. Joy is not the product of human effort. It is one of the graces that make up the fruit of the Spirit. The joy He provides is present even when we are forced to do things that are not enjoyable. That’s why regardless of how bad things are we can rejoice in the Lord. Circumstances might be terrible, but Christ is always the same–wonderful.

It is right here that most people make a train wreck of their life. They are on the wrong track and a wreck is bound to happen. Their interest is in happiness, rather than holiness. They want a crown without a cross. Their desire is to gratify the flesh, rather than glorify the Lord. They want to pamper self, rather than please the Savior. Then they wonder why the cup of life is filled with bitter dregs. The more they seek merriment the more miserable they are. Such a life is both senseless and sinful. And in this we see the insanity of sinful man. He repeats himself over and over, doing the same thing again and again expecting different results. Not too smart!

It’s not until a man comes to himself that he comes to God. It is only then that he discovers the deepest desires of his heart— without even seeking after them! It is then that he is filled with wonder and overcome with amazement. To think that he has been running after things that cannot satisfy and from the only One who can fulfill the long-time longings of his heart shows what a fool he has been. So, what are you searching for? Remember, happiness is something that comes to you, not something you come to by chasing after it. Happiness happens when we stop stop seeking it and start seeking to please God.

And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shalt be delivered—-  (Joel 2:32).

When you find yourself in a dreadful situation there is nothing so encouraging as the blessed assurance that comes from God’s exceeding great and precious promise of deliverance. It fills our soul with delight rather than dread. Regardless of how hopeless it seems we know that help comes from the Lord. It was this thought that prompted Spurgeon to write:

“Why do I not call on His name? Why do I run to this neighbor and that when God is so near and will hear my faintest call? Why do ] sit down and devise schemes and invent plans! Why not at once roll my- self and my burden upon the LORD? Straightforward is the best runner — why do I not run at once to the living God? In vain shall I look for) deliverance anywhere else; but with God I shall find it; for here I have Hi. royal “shall” to make it sure.

I need not ask whether I may call on Him or not, for that word whosoever is a very wide and comprehensive one. Whosoever means me, for it means anybody and everybody who calls upon God. I will therefore follow the leading of the text and at once call upon the glorious LORD who has made so large a promise.

My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine. He who makes the promise will find out ways and means of keeping it. It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels. I am His servant, not His solicitor. I call upon Him, and He will deliver me.”

Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.—2 Cor.5:17 

Instead of talking about living the “high-life”, Christians should be thinking about living the new life. The moment you trust Christ as your Savior there is a new you. You are not the person you used to be!              

In a recent devotion, Jack Graham tells of “Augustine, the famed theologian and philosopher,” who” was a very carnal young man, often frequenting houses of prostitution. So when he came to know Christ as his Savior, he was dramatically transformed and changed by the power of God.

One day he was walking down one of the streets in his home town and a shady lady that he had known previously was standing on the street corner. She saw Augustine and said, “Augustine! Augustine! It is I!” So Augustine immediately turned the other direction and said, “Yes, but it is not I.”

You see, when you become a believer in Christ, you are radically changed from the inside out. That’s because Jesus takes your sin away, liberating you from its bondage, and has given you the Spirit of God to live inside of you. The result is that your old self is dead and your new self enables you to live a life pleasing to God.

God can (will) give you a new heart and a new life if you’re in Christ. And as a Christian, you can make a commitment to holiness and godliness because of that new life. So if you’ve been made new in Christ, live your life focused on bringing glory to Him!”

The new life is the best life. Live it! You won’t regret it.

All the days of the afflicted are evil; but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.–Proverbs 15:15

We ourselves are often to blame for whether we are are miserable or merry. It all depends upon what we are thinking. J. R. Miller said it well:

We pretty much see just what we are looking for. If our mind has become trained to look for troubles, difficulties, problems, and all gloomy and dreary things–then we shall find just what we seek. On the other hand, it is quite as easy to form the habit of looking always for beauty, for good, for happiness, for gladness–and here too we shall find precisely what we seek.

It has been said that the habit of always seeing the bright side in life, is worth a large income to a man. It makes life a great deal easier.

None of us are naturally drawn to a gloomy person, who everywhere finds something to complain about–but we are all attracted to one who sees some beauty in everything. Joy is a transfiguring quality. Its secret is a glad heart.

“Finally, brethren,
 whatsoever things are
— true,
—honest,
—just,
—pure,
—lovely,
—of good report,
—think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8