Matthew 24:42-44 (KJV) - Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

As a military member, I know all about preparation. We have countless training requirements, exercises, and teachings designed to prepare us for war. War is not a predictable event we can place on our calendar, so we always be ready at a moment's notice. Therefore, we must train as we expect to fight.

As Jesus explained, we know not the hour He will return. Therefore, we should 'train' and live as if His return is imminent. Each day we will be given numerous opportunities to train.

1. Thought Life

Many of the 'tests' of temptation we receive will come through our thought life. We must be mindful of the things which are within our hearts as they can also 'drive' our thoughts:

Mark 7:20-23 (KJV) - And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Additionally, as Satan tempted Jesus in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11), Satan will also tempt us in our thoughts.

So what can we change the nature of our heart?

Psalm 51:10 (KJV) - Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (KJV) - Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) - Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

Titus 1:15 (KJV) - Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.

As you read these scriptures, you'll find that there are some things you will ask God and others you must accomplish yourself. As stated in Proverbs 4:23, you must keep your heart with all diligence. This will require a constant watch on the condition of our heart and purposefully hiding the Word in it:

Psalm 119:11 (KJV) - Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

The diligence we must seek is like walking up an escalator going down. As long as we're moving up, we'll reach the top, but as soon as we stop walking up, we're headed back down.

2. Flesh

With the flesh, there will be many elements it will use to keep your attention. It will exploit your five senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, and taste) at any opportunity it has.

James 1:13-15 (KJV) - Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

The lusts within will try to entice you to sin. The flesh and its desires are not out to help you live for God:

Galatians 5:16-24 (KJV) - This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

2 Timothy 2:22 (KJV) - Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

We do not know the hour the Lord will come. He will come at a time when we do not expect. Many 'end time' authors, show hosts, and pastor/teachers want you to believe that you can know when the thief will come to break in your house (using Jesus' illustration in Matthew 24:43). They want you to be ready for a day that will not usher the LordÂ’s coming. Instead of reading countless books and watching shows about the end time events (i.e. specific countries, dates, etc.), trust in the Lord's Words and be prepared for His coming at a moment's notice. Remember, Jesus said He will come in an hour we do not expect (think).