In 2018, I graduated from my four weeks of trucking school. Driving a truck was not something I had always dreamed of doing. I started because I wanted to provide more for my family and to better support God’s work. Now, almost eight years later, I can honestly say that I have grown to love trucking, and I have learned some lessons.

Trucking can be both exciting and terrifying. You travel, you experience new places and famous places you may have only seen on television or online, you meet people from different walks of life. I enjoyed talking with my family throughout the day while I worked, and there is a sense of freedom that comes from driving your own truck. There is something about driving a big semi-truck down the interstate that makes you powerful, almost like the king of the road.

But while trucking can be exciting, it can also be very dangerous. A fully loaded tractor and trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A driver must know what he is hauling and make sure their loads are secure. He must constantly stay alert and aware of his surroundings and avoid following too closely behind other vehicles. A shifted load, a poor driving decision, or a mechanical failure can quickly turn deadly.

Bad equipment can also cause serious problems. A truck with poor brakes, bad tires, or engine issues can leave a driver stranded on the side of the interstate. Even worse, some mechanical failures can cause accidents that may harm both the driver and innocent people on the road.

Because of these dangers, there is one very important thing truck drivers are required to do before starting their day. This process helps keep drivers safe, prepared, and aware of the condition of their equipment. Truck drivers call this process a pre-trip inspection.

The pre-trip inspection is the act of carefully checking and preparing your truck before beginning your journey. You check your tires, brakes, lights, fluids, load securement, and many other things to make sure everything is safe and functioning properly before you ever turn the key and hit the road.

As I thought more about the purpose of a pre-trip inspection, I began to realize that trucking is not the only area of life that requires preparation. In many ways, life itself is like a journey, and every day we set out on a new trip.

Every day we need to get work done, we experience excitement, we avoid dangers, and we know we can encounter unexpected situations, temptations, distractions and spiritual battles. Just as a truck driver should never begin a trip without first inspecting his truck, we should never begin our day without a pre-trip process of putting God first.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:33, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

God desires to protect, provide for, and guide His people. That is why Jesus instructed us to seek first the Kingdom of God. Just as a pre-trip inspection prepares a truck before it ever hits the road, seeking God first prepares us for whatever we may face throughout the day.

Putting God first teaches us to rely on Him, which is exactly what He desires from us. The more we put God first, the more we will develop the fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. These are the spiritual attributes that make your journey through the day and through life successful.

When a truck driver performs a pre-trip inspection, he carefully examines his equipment to identify and prevent potential problems before they arise. In the same way, we should begin each day by going to God in prayer and searching His Word. As we examine ourselves through God’s Word, He brings to light weaknesses, correction for wrong attitudes, and preparation for the challenges that lie ahead that we haven’t even seen yet—but He has.

Each day, you are at the wheel of your own life. You need God’s guidance and help, every minute, every mile. So start your day with a pre-trip inspection of putting God first.