Pret, Toujours Pret

From 1992-1994, I was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia in the US Army.  I was a military police traffic accident investigator. One of the units also on the base (out in Kelly Hill, if I remember correctly?) had a regimental crest with the motto of "Pret, Toujours Pret."  From the French, it is translated to English as "Ready, Always Ready."

That motto came to mind today based on an event at work and I had a series of rapidly flowing thoughts which I figured I would share today.

1. Be ready.

At some point in our lives, if we are displaying the fruit of the Spirit, someone will ask us why we live the way we do. We need to be prepared to provide an answer for the hope within us. We need to be prepared to give testimony. While having a preplanned or wrote script to regurgitate is not the answer I am suggesting, since the would not allow the Holy Spirit to give you the words most appropriate for the situation. I am suggesting that you pray for the leading of the Spirit if and when the occassion arises.

"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV)

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6 (KJV)

2. We never know when our time will end.

Recent events at work (the loss of a coworker on duty) have reinforced this to me.  Sure, my diagnosis has also had it on the front burner for a while, but actually having to cope with a death has turned up the heat.  We never know when our days are complete, either through our passing or the return of the Lord.

"Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh." Matthew 25:13 (KJV)

3. Pret is pronounced "pray". We should always pray.   If I can offer only ONE suggestion to help improve your spiritual relationship, it is to pray.  Like any relationship, we need to talk things out.  We need to communicate.  Yes, God knows all our needs and those of others, but we should still make mention and raise them up.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36 (KJV)

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" Ephesians 6:18 (KJV)

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice." Phillipians 4:4 (KJV)