Success doesn’t often come to those who wait—it comes to those who prepare.
Being prepared is more than just a good habit—it’s a mindset. It’s living today with tomorrow in mind. It’s understanding that opportunities don’t come with a warning label. The doors you’ve been praying to open might swing wide at any moment, and the real question is: Will you be ready to walk through them?
Think of the story of the five wise and five foolish virgins in Matthew 25. The wise ones brought extra oil for their lamps. They were ready when the bridegroom came. The foolish ones? They were scrambling, unprepared, and missed out on the celebration. The difference wasn’t intelligence or intention—it was preparation.
Preparation builds confidence. It keeps you calm when chaos hits. It gives you peace when life throws a curveball. Whether it’s your spiritual walk, your career, your relationships, or your health—getting prepared is a gift you give your future self.
Want a better job? Prepare your resume and sharpen your skills.
Want deeper faith? Start building your prayer life now.
Want to impact others? Start serving where you are.
As the saying goes, “If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.” Don’t wait for the storm to learn how to build a shelter. Start now. Today is not just another day—it’s a chance to get prepared for the breakthrough you’ve been hoping for.
Be ready. Stay ready. Walk boldly into your tomorrow.
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Quote of the Day:
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin
Let August 8 be your wake-up call: Preparation is not a pause—it’s progress.
2 Cor 4 :3-6. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
Imagine you had a bank account that deposited $86,400 each morning. The account carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every dollar each day!
We all have such a bank. Its name is Time. Every morning, it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever time you have failed to use wisely. It carries over no balance from day to day. It allows no overdraft so you can’t borrow against yourself or use more time than you have. Each day, the account starts fresh. Each night, it destroys an unused time. If you fail to use the day’s deposits, it’s your loss and you can’t appeal to get it back.
There is never any borrowing time. You can’t take a loan out on your time or against someone else’s. The time you have is the time you have and that is that. Time management is yours to decide how you spend the time, just as with money you decide how you spend the money. It is never the case of us not having enough time to do things, but the case of whether we want to do them and where they fall in our priorities.
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Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
A small boy filled with all kinds of playful ideas anxiously awaited his father’s return from work. An extra-long day at the office, however, had taken its toll, and his father longed for a few minutes of relaxation.
Over and over again the boy tugged at his dad’s leg with yet another suggestion of something they might do together.
Well, finally in total frustration the father ripped from a magazine a picture of the world and tore it into a hundred pieces. “Here,” he said handing the child a roll of scotch tape, “go and put the world back together.” Ah, peace at last, or so he thought.
But, in just a few minutes, he was interrupted again, there before him stood his son-and in hands was a crudely fashioned picture of the world. “Son, that’s incredible. How did you do it?” “It was easy,” said the boy, “you see on the other side of the picture of the world was the picture of a man, and as soon as I got man straightened out the world came together.” What a profound answer from a child!
How true! Get man fixed and the world will be okay.
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Forgiveness is not just a gift you give to others—it’s a gift you give to yourself.
Holding on to anger or resentment is like carrying a backpack filled with rocks. Every step becomes heavier. Every day feels more draining. But when you choose to forgive, you lighten your load. You reclaim your peace.
Forgiving doesn’t mean you forget the hurt or excuse the offense. It means you are choosing not to be chained to it. It means you’re strong enough to rise above it and say, “This will not define me.”
Some of the most powerful people are not those who hold grudges, but those who let go. Forgiveness doesn’t make you weak—it makes you wise. It doesn’t make you a doormat—it makes you free.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive other people when they trespass against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.” That’s not just a command—it’s a lifeline. When you open your heart to forgive, you make space for healing, joy, and growth.
Today, ask yourself: Who do I need to forgive? Maybe it’s someone else. Maybe it’s yourself. Either way, take the first step. Let go. Breathe. Move forward.
Because forgiving doesn’t change the past—but it sure changes the future.
As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7
Your thoughts are the steering wheel of your life. Where your mind goes, your life will follow. If you constantly dwell on what’s wrong, what’s missing, or what might fail, you will live in fear, frustration, and defeat. But if you train your mind to focus on truth, faith, possibilities, and God’s promises—you open the door to joy, strength, and victory.
The battle isn’t out there. It starts in your head.
Why Right Thinking Matters:
Your thoughts shape your words, and your words shape your world. Negative thoughts drain your energy, blur your focus, and kill your momentum. Right thoughts build confidence, create peace, and attract purpose.
You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.
3 Ways to Think the Right Thoughts:
Guard the Gate. Not every thought deserves your attention. Just because it knocks doesn’t mean you have to let it in. Worry, doubt, and bitterness want to move in and rent space in your mind for free. Kick them out. Don’t let junk take up sacred space. Feed Your Faith. Read uplifting Scripture. Listen to messages that build you up. Surround yourself with people who speak life, not fear. Fill your mind with God’s truth, and lies won’t have room to grow. Speak What You Seek. Your mind listens to your mouth. Start saying things like, “I am growing,” “I am learning,” “I’m going to make it,” and “God is with me.” You’ll be surprised how your attitude shifts when your confession lines up with truth.
A Final Thought:
You can’t stop birds from flying over your head, but you can stop them from building a nest in your hair. Likewise, you can’t stop every bad thought from showing up, but you can choose what stays. So today, choose to think the right thoughts.
Filling up on junk– If I am coming home to a good home cooked meal, how hungry will I be if I stop off at a convenience stop and have a soft drink, chips, and a candy bar? Probably not very hungry at all. That’s why we can’t learn some of the good things of life, we are too full of the trivial, meaningless things to get to absorb the better. I’m like a dried old sponge, ready to soak it up. If a sponge is so dry that it is brittle and ready for the garbage, just a little water can bring it back to life.
Goals— It is almost impossible to reach a goal if you can’t even see it. The chances of reaching a goal is more impossible if you don’t have one.
You have to start somewhere to get anywhere. Try starting with small, easy to define goals at first.
A journey of a thousand miles started with that first mile. Most things, at least the good things, don’t happen by accident.
Sticks and Stones—may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. I don’t see that as entirely true. Words can hurt, probably more than the sticks and stones. The sticks and stones hurt for a little while, but words may hurt always. Once you shoot the arrow, it won’t return to the bow. Make sure you really want to hurt the other person, very sure. When you see the results it might rain on your victory parade.
Responsibilities– I remember what my children look like. I will never forget. But, I have pictures of them in my office to remind myself that there are people depending on me. If I fail, not only will it hurt me, but plenty of others. It is just that little edge that gets me over what’s in my way.
People won’t listen to your talk if your walk speaks so loud it drowns out what you are saying— I remember an episode of Andy Griffith show where Barney wanted to sing with the choir. Problem was, his off key voice messed up the rest of the talented singers. They (Andy I think) gave him a microphone and told him it was so powerful that he need only whisper. His mic was turned off and the real sound was coming from a singer backstage.
If you aren’t real, people will turn Your microphone (you) off. You won’t have a voice that speaks anything to anyone. People are looking for the real deal and not a phony. Most people can see right through an insincere phony.
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Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Humor:
There’s a man sitting at a bar just looking at his drink. He stays like that for half an hour. Then, a big trouble-making truck driver steps next to him, takes the drink from the guy, and just drinks it all down.
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The poor man starts crying. The truck driver says, “Come on man, I was just joking. Here, I’ll buy you another drink. I just can’t stand seeing a man crying.”
“No, it’s not that. This day is the worst of my life. First, I fall asleep, and I’m late to my office. My boss, in an outrage, fires me. When I leave the building to my car, I found out it was stolen. The police say they can do nothing. I get a cab to return home and when I leave it, I remember I left my wallet and credit cards there. The cab driver just drives away. I go home and when I get there, my wife kicks me out. I leave home and come to this bar. And when I was thinking about putting an end to my life, you show up and drink my poison.”
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
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1 Peter 5:1-4. The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
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