Each day, upon awakening we have a series of choices. One such choice is whether in the next few moments we will succumb to an insidious and all too common enemy. I am referring to the reality that many of us allow our day and our thoughts to be governed by anxiety. We have a choice between anxiety and resilience. The solution is clear; the choice is obvious, though it comes down to a moment by moment correction that we must apply in our reliance on God. Jesus Christ offers the pathway and the opportunities to improve our outlook and our interactions. Together we will look to the scriptures for the guidance we require.

Christians are tasked with achieving self-control in their pursuit of godliness. We have to be deliberate in achieving balance because it doesn’t come without effort. Small changes and adjustments to our daily routines will keep us focused and headed towards salvation.

In the model prayer in Matthew 6:10 we read the following admonition: “Your kingdom come….” These are the first three words in this verse and they are full of meaning. Do we pray for this on a regular basis? If not, we really ought to and, if not, we might want to rethink this. When we see the problems and suffering that there are today, we MUST SURELY PRAY MORE FERVENTLY – YOUR KINGDOM COME! It is a massive and sober reminder of what is to come when the great tribulation starts. What is happening today is just a taste of much worse things that lie ahead.

The victory of life over death will be the greatest triumph ever experienced. What are the circumstances that will lead up to that event? How will the victory be made? How will you be involved?

Just saying we are ready for the end does no necessarily mean we are ready in God’s eyes. We need to examine ourselves daily to ensure we are meeting the requirements that God sets out for us, to be ready in His eyes.

God is very clear by saying we should keep all his commandments. We should do our utmost to keep the promise we gave him.  The consequences are clear when we handle our promise with carelessness.

What are our personal standards? Having standards and sticking to them is a constant challenge that each of us must be doing. The chance to do this is now. The instruction is to be constantly ready and on guard.