They had been working on their routine for months. They were preparing for national cheerleading competition. They worked hard. They worked through numerous injuries. They worked around schoolwork, social life, family events, and right through the holidays. They worked when they were tired. They worked when they were hurt. They worked in spite of the fact that many of their friends could not consider them as real athletes. They prepared. They planned. They hoped. They dreamed.

It all came down to a three-minute routine filled with jumps, cheers, formations, tumbles and tosses in front of the crowd and the judges. They had their moment.

Our lives are filled with events that seem to come down to a brief moment in time — a decision, a performance, or simply a few minutes.

A relationship may come down to one conversation. Say the right words and the relationship can move forward. Say the wrong words and the relationship ends.

A wedding comes down to a brief ceremony. A lifetime of dreams, relationship after relationship, months and months of planning, and finally within a few minutes the ceremony ends. You are married.

The survival of a marriage may come down to one decision. It may be a wise decision. It may be a poor decision. The one decision can change the course of your marriage.

Your moment may come today!
New birth comes down to the moment of surrender. You have read the Word. You have prayed for guidance. You have received spiritual guidance. You have made the decision in your heart. All that is left is to take the public step. Then, one Sunday morning the invitation is extended, and you respond.

Getting a new job comes down to one moment in the interview process. You have evaluated the company. The company has evaluated you. Finally, the job is offered and the job is accepted.

Your health may depend on one event. You have a check-up. Tests are ordered. A doctor makes a diagnosis. Surgery is scheduled. Within a short time the surgery is completed.

Your life today may come down to a single conversation, a few sentences, one decision, one moment in time. Will you be ready?

Paul offers guidance on how to be prepared:

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:2-6 NIV)

By they way, the cheerleaders had their moment. They rose to the occasion. They made it to finals. They did not finish as well as they had hoped, but their performance proved they have talent. They confirmed that they have the ability to compete with the best in the nation and they changed the way they will think of themselves forever. They are among the best in the nation. It all came down to one performance ... to their moment.

Your moment may come today. Are you ready?