Making Your Bed

In our sermon series entitled PAIN, we had a special guest - a Green Beret - come and share his experiences of training and serving our country as a part of an elite Special Forces groups.  Discussing the training and the demands placed upon them, Green Beret's (and all Special Forces groups for that matter) must develop a "no quit" attitude.  This attitude is intricate in survival and the survival of your team.  In our conversation, Mr. Mercer mentioned a commencement speech given in 2014 by Admiral William H. McRaven.  In his commencement address to the graduates of the University of Texas, Admiral McRaven illustrates the importance of making your bed.

"Making your bed means you have accomplished the first task of the day successfully…” Admiral McRaven says, "…and doing the first thing successfully means that there are many more success to come."  The point that Admiral McRaven was making is that we must do the little things right in order to have success at the big things.  We must work just as hard at the little things as we do at the big things if we expect success.  The little things develop the determination to do everything correctly.

As Christians, if we expect to make a difference for God, we must prepare ourselves for the opportunities to share the Gospel, be disciple makers, and be the hands and feet of Christ in our community, state, and world.  And this is only possible if we do the little things; that in turn, prepare us to do the big things.  One example is reading your Bibles regularly and storing the word of God in your heart (Psalm 119:11).  In this individual task, we are equipping ourselves for the conversations that God will orchestrate.

But even further than that, we are developing a strong foundation of love for God and a trust in Him that will not be shaken in the darkest and most difficult times of life.  In those moments - with proper preparation - we will overcome the tasks before us with God leading the way.

Admiral McRaven provided a great illustration for us to live by.  If you would like to hear the speech in its entirety, click here.

So in closing, make your bed...after you have spent time with God.