wake up

5:30 am practices were the worst in college. It was all mental. As soon as practice ended the evening before you had to start mentally preparing for the next morning. I remember making sure that my roommates and I would be asleep by 9:30 because we had to be up at 4:00 the next morning.

We made sure that we were up and got to the gym an hour early. We knew that if we were not mentally and physically prepared for morning practice that they might make us come back that same afternoon to practice again.

No matter how many times we had morning practice, we had to make sure that we were properly prepared. We couldn't become lazy and used to how we were doing things. We had to consistently do this because to be honest with you, we were going to do whatever we had to in order to not have two practices in one day...we had enough of those throughout our careers.

Making sure that you are up and at it is important in all aspects of your life. You can't become lazy. Nothing good ever happens when laziness takes over your life.

Another important thing is that we can't become so content with our faith that we are lured into sleep or laziness. We cannot automatically assume things are perfect. We cannot let our self-satisfaction cause us to die spiritually.

"Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you." (Revelation 3:3)

In Revelation chapter 3, the church of Sardis had fallen asleep. They were urged to go back to what they first heard and believed, to get back to the basics of the faith. It is important to grow in our knowledge of the Lord and to deepen our understanding. But no matter how much we learn we must not abandon the basic truths.

No new truth from God will ever contradict biblical teachings.

Are you watchful and alert? If God has given you a place of responsibility to teach, lead, or serve, use that position to encourage those around you to be spiritually awake and morally prepared.

My challenge for you is to prepare yourself. We don't know when the Lord will come but make sure that you are ready when that time does come.