PREPARATION!

This morning, I was writing out a list of confessions. These are things I believe from the word of God and am putting my voice behind them in faith. I have many Bible verses that I have done this with over many years. Today, my inspiration was to increase my capacity to see more. To feed my heart daily to believe for more. One thing I have learned about faith is that it does something. Once you really believe something in your heart, your faith will act in accordance with that word you believe.

Faith is not waiting on the promises of God; it is acting on the promises of God.

I can remember when we were “believing” God to get pregnant, one thing I was stirred to do was to prepare for a baby. I saw in scripture that faith prepares (Hebrews 11:7 and other places). We started to get the nursery ready for the day we would have a baby. When I was out shopping, I would see a sweet baby toy that inspired my heart or a special outfit that I really liked, and I would buy it. I kept those things in her closet until the day she would be here to wear them or play with them. We bought a baby crib and started preparing a room.

I heard a story from a woman who was believing God for her own house. The Lord dealt with her to clean up the home she was currently living in. In other words, she hadn’t taken care of what she already had but was intending to use her faith for something better. She responded to the prompting of the Lord and cleaned up her space and took good care of it, thanking the Lord for what He had already provided. The time came and she received her own home.

There is so much to be said for preparation, and it applies to a vast array of subjects and circumstances. The only reason to prepare is that you believe something is coming that you need to be ready for.

God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus. Mark 1:1-4

Jesus prepared for His ministry by being about His Father’s business. Luke 2:49

Jesus taught us the parable of the sower. The sower sows the word. You sow seed in preparation of the harvest. Mark 4, Luke 8

The armies of God prepared for battle.

Paul told Philemon to prepare a guest room for him because he believed through the answer of prayer God would make a way for him to come. Philemon 1:22

Jesus went before us to prepare a place for us in heaven, in our Father’s house. John 14:2. He is coming back for us very soon.

Believer’s are told to put on the armor of God to be prepared for victory. Ephesians 6:10-17

What are you believing for today? Is any preparation necessary on your part? Could it be you need to prepare your heart for that thing?

Do you need to clean out the garage to make room for the new car?

Do you need to clean out the clutter in your house so you can think straight?

Do you need to cast your cares on the Lord to prepare your mind for perfect peace?

Do you need to prepare your body for the call the Lord has placed on your life?

Do you need to prepare a meal for your neighbors to sow peace?

Do you need to prepare your confessions to ignite your faith?

I heard something recently that grabbed my attention. “When preparation meets opportunity”.

I wrote it on a note in my office so I can look at it all the time. It paints a picture for me that I am preparing for what the Lord has for me to do. If I don’t do my part to prepare, I won’t be ready when God opportunities present themselves. Every day I have an opportunity to prepare for my future. Sowing the word of God in my heart, prayer, walking in love, exercising, giving, studying, serving, obeying… the list can go on and on.

I heard this acronym once.  P.O.O.R. Passing Over Opportunities Repeatedly.

I don’t think this only applies to financial things but in light of today’s topic – PREPARATION – this applies to passing over opportunities to prepare. Don’t just wait for the opportunity to appear before you invest in preparation.

I am believing the Lord for some things I know I will need to be ready for. I want to encourage you to take the opportunity to prepare for what the Lord has placed in your heart in this season of your life. Preparation time is never wasted time!