PREPARATION
In July, I was told to prepare. So many thoughts come with this word. Lots of times we think prepare for disaster. Be prepared with a first aid kit, candles, extra food, and yes, in 2020 we learned to make sure we had toilet paper. Yet, when the Bible tells us to prepare, sometimes it's about our heart. It's about preparing to receive something wonderful from the Lord, even if it arrives carrying difficulties and obstacles.
The Lord will sometimes show us the good that is ahead to bring hope. Yet, we don't see the trials we will face as we move into the destination God has for us. God desires for us to prepare, to prepare ourselves so we can receive the inheritance He desires to give us. Even Jesus, our wonderful Messiah, the Son of God was prepared. He was prepared until he was about thirty years old and then, released into His ministry assignment. He moved into His destiny by listening to what the Father showed Him and what the Father told him. In the greatest testing, Jesus knew the Scriptures that described His trial to the cross, yet, when He faced it, He sweat tears of blood and asked if there was another way. The powerful Son of God did not want to endure what was ahead, but surrendered to it.
He was PREPARED. Do you feel PREPARED? In these times at all things accelerate toward our Savior's return? In the times where our ahead seems unclear?
For the trial Jesus faced, He received the whole earth as His reward. He received us, as joint heirs with Him as that reward. God is testing all of us. He wants for us to be PREPARED to receive GREAT REWARDS that we may see when we cross over to heaven. Some rewards may come while we are here, but we continue to set our minds on things above.
Are you being PREPARED? Are you making sure you take some time each day to spend with the Lord as He gets you ready?
Listen to these beautiful words that the Prophet Jeremiah received from the Lord:
But blessed is the man who TRUSTS in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought nor does it cease to produce fruit. Jeremiah 17:7
When we are PREPARED we produce fruit. It may have to come out of season for us, which means it might not be convenient or the way we like. Our fruit might be standing for righteousness instead of allowing sin to prevail. Trying to navigate these waters means that each day we must be prepared with so much of the Word of God, we can prevail over these storms.
Go back and look at that Scripture. What are some of the key words in it? BLESSED. TRUST. NO FEAR IN TRIALS. ALWAYS LIFE FILLED (GREEN). NO WORRY IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE DRY. BUT KEEPS PRODUCING FRUIT.
What amazing wisdom that Scripture is! We overcome with the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony. Jesus tells us to occupy until He comes. Have you had days where you are surprised He hasn't come yet? I know I have. Yet, as Jesus said it would be like the days of Noah when He comes, we are PREPARING - like Noah did - and seeking as many as will enter the Ark.
What times, eh? Well, if you aren't fully following the Lord - if you are doing your own thing - then, ask Jesus to help you. Ask forgiveness. Seek to walk right. And PREPARE.
Be blessed my friends,
Dana Peters-Colley