Wednesday, February 03, 2010

The Will To Prepare

This past weekend was the Australian Open. I don't watch a lot of tennis, but I like the slams, and for some reason I get the Tennis Channel free whenever they are on (which works for me).

During the men's final, one of the commentators said a quote that many have said in different ways. Paul Bryant (a football coach) said it, Bobby Knight (a basketball coach closer to home) also said it. Basically, it's this.

Many have the will to win, few have the will to prepare.

It's true. There are so many people who want the big title, the big job, the big whatever, but they don't want to take the time to put in the effort without a guarantee of a payoff. They don't want to do the little things that seem insignificant but are truly necessary for greatness (in my musical history, these would be known as scales).

Jesus said this is also true with our souls. A few weeks ago at Downpour (our Sr. High Bible Study) we talked about it. From the words of Jesus:

Matthew 7:24-27 ~ "Anyone who listens to My teaching and obeys Me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse, because it is built on rock. But anyone who hears My teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will fall with a mighty crash." (NLT)

Notice the house wasn't built because we knew the storm was coming. Notice the house wasn't built, then a foundation was selected and the house later put on. The foundation comes first. If we aren't willing to do the little things to build the foundation of our soul, then when the true test comes, the tennis match or the storm, we won't be victorious. To win in life, we need to build that foundation.

So get out there and do what you can to build up your spiritual foundation. Read your Bible, pray, serve, talk with others, both who know Jesus and about Jesus to those who don't. Build for yourself the chance to win when the time is right.

T

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