Preparation the Key to Success

I recently celebrated my fourth year of the fifth decade of my life. You figure it out. The fifties have brought some interesting changes in my life. My home has returned to just Dianne and me. I have experienced the satisfaction of seeing my sons establish their homes and careers. I have become a grandfather. Career wise I finally feel somewhat adequate to the task. However, on the physical side I am wondering why my get up and go seems to take longer to get and go. It seems fifty is the magical mark for health concerns to arise. Doctors begin to check you for all kinds of possible diseases and ailments. As I write, I am less than 24 hours away from one of the most dreaded tests, the one for colon cancer. For those of you with previous experience, you realize that the preparation is worse than the test itself. For those of you who don't have a clue what I'm talking about, ask someone over fifty.

Of course as a preacher, I am finding some spiritual application in all of this. Preparation is essential in any endeavor to have a successful result. Just look at any successful athlete.  They didn't reach success without hours of practice and preparation. Preparation is not an easy task, but the goal is worth it. The same is true if we are to be successful in our spiritual lives.  Preparation is essential. We prepare through a regime of prayer, Bible study, meditation, and worship. These will cleanse and keep us from sin issues in our lives. Just as I have to follow a regime of preparation for a successful outcome physically, we all must develop a spiritual regime to assure our eternal success. 

I challenge us all to pursue a healthy spiritual life with as much care and concern as we do a healthy physical body.

See you Sunday,
Pastor Jeff