Prepared
In His Word
Are you
ready? Are you prepped and geared up for what's ahead? Are you
prepared for what God has for you to do? Do not worry today for He
will prepare the way for you!
Were you
looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is
the man to whom the Scriptures refer to when they say, “ Look, I am
sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way
before you.' “I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived,
none Is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in
the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! Matthew 11:9-11
Sometimes we are looking in the wrong place for the answer we seek. The people of Israel, including the Priests and Levites
Some
people will get saved, they will get all excited and run off to tell
the world who Jesus is without being prepared to defend what they
believe. They are like a soldier going out to battle without his
ammunition. Without the bullets the weapon is useless.
Without
the preparation in the Word of God witnessing is wimpy at best. If we
cannot use the Bible to show, or tell others the reality of who God
is then we are not prepared.
My Bible
tells me to put on the armor of God, with good reason.
For we
are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil
rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in
this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to
resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will
still be standing firm. Stand your ground putting on the belt of
truth and the body armor of God's righteousness. For shoes, put on
the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully
prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to
stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet
and take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Ephesians
6:10-17
When we
go out to share the Gospel Message, or just to tell someone what God
is doing in our lives we need to be prepared with the knowledge or
Whom it is we are talking about!
This is
a good reason to read the Word daily if nothing else; to be prepared.
God is
good! He knew we would come into a world that was full of confusing
and misunderstandings and so He gave us a manual of design. He gave
us the Word of God to follow as an example for our lives but also to
know who He is. It is a History book, and a future book, it is a
diary of God's early doings as written through people whom He shared
His heart's desires.
He
prepares His people for battle, but it is up to us to prepare our
lives for His direction. We must be obedient to His Word, to read it
daily we can know just what to do. We must keep the oil in our lamps
burning! Fresh oil from the throne comes to us through prayer and the
Word of God!
I desire
to dig in the Word each day and find what God has for me, I want to
be ready when the Bridegroom comes!
“At
midnight they were roused by the shout, 'Look the bridegroom is
coming! Come out and meet him!' all the bridesmaids got up and
prepared their lamps. Then the five foolish ones asked the others.
'Please give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.'
Matthew 29:6-8
God has
prepared a place for us. He knows how much room we need and He has
more than enough room. He has prepared the Bible to fill our hearts
and minds with His love, His guidance and His understanding. He has
prepared to spend time with us daily; have we shown up ready?
God
waits to hear our voice in the morning, through out the day He walks
with us and talks to us, He would love to have us respond in kind. He
tells us not to have fear of His directions, that we can trust Him.
“Don't
let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
There is more than enough room in my Father's home. If this were not
so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will
always be with me where I am. John 24”1-3“
Even
when He had to leave his closest earthly 'life group' Jesus told them
to trust God, the Father, and to trust Him as they are one and the
same. He told them He would go and prepare for them to join Him in
heaven. He does the same for us, each of us who believe, who trust in
Him to do as He has promised.
Some
ways we can prepare ourselves for the day we join Him are;
- Put on your Helmet--Open up your heart to Him. He wants to be your forever friend. When you allow Jesus to become part of your life and you accept that Christ is real, and that He wants to be your Lord you begin to get prepared.
- Buckle your Belt--When you accept that the Word of God is God breathed, inspired, and encouraged to be written in such a manner as to cause spiritual growth and understanding of God and His ways, then your preparation is taking on life.
- Strap on your Sword--When you pray, and read your Bible daily you gain the strength that only the Holy Spirit can give. It is a supernatural strength to stand, to step forward in ministry even when your physical world is spinning around you. Even when loved ones go on to be with Him you can step out, and step up to the task that He has given you when your prayer life, and your reading is up to date!
- Step into the Shoes- If you are prepared with the Word that you study to show yourselves approved and ready to go into battle knowing the Gospel! Now you are ready to step out in faith and share what He has given you!
When
we prepare our hearts and minds in the Word daily, more often as we
hear Him calling, and add to that reading praying and communicating
with Him; then we will be ready!
Dear
Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us all we need and what to do
with it. Thank you for your handbook, your instruction manual, your
map of life! Thank you for Your Words! Grant us understanding today
beyond what we know that we may step out in faith knowing that we
have hidden your words in our heart. In Jesus name, amen.
Suggested
readings: Ephesians 6:1-24, Colossians 1;1-29 Philippians 2:-1-24,
and Philippians 4:1-24