As noted in this short article, many military cadets, strapped for time, cash, and energy, dream of the day when they will finally graduate and enter the “real” Air Force, Navy, etc.  They hope for that day when they can finally have the time and resources to do the things they know they should, like give money to their church, read their Bible, or attend a fellowship.  What some don’t realize is that life may be just as busy “on the outside.”

Thus, the time to integrate those Christian characteristics into their life–to turn choices into habits, which are the basis for a lifestyle–is now, because there will never be a “better” time.

Though the current war on terror has stretched the military in ways many can’t remember, the pace of the military life has actually been high for many years.  Military Christians faced these same challenges in time and energy even decades ago, and they will continue to face them in the future:

In response to an OCF survey, an Air Force academy graduate in 1971 described the hectic demands of his schedule: “Flying at different times, TDYs, and alerts all tend to make it hard to set aside a regular time each day for prayer, and make planning ahead for meetings difficult. Regular weekly attendance is impossible.”

The challenges he described in the early 1970s are exactly the same as those I have faced…Make the decision now to start habits that will build a firm foundation and determine your spiritual lifestyle for the rest of your active duty life.