Someone who is out to distract and destroy you doesn’t want you to know this: God is preparing you for love and service through your life circumstances.
This is important to remember: You have an enemy. But God has a workable plan to undermine and render this enemy ineffective.
As you live your life, it’s often painful to hack through the dense, thorny, flesh ripping brush of conflict and chaos in order to blaze a trail and finally see clearly an unobstructed view of your current situation. Thus, it’s valuable to assess where you are at this moment. It’s worth your time to take account of who you are and where you are, now.
Then, if change and improvement are called for, do it. Quitting is not an option for you.
The truth is you and I have left un-used treasure the Lord has made available to us. This wastefulness needs to stop. Consequently, we must see today as another day of preparation.
For what?
Let’s find out. Come and see. Allow Joseph, Esther, and David, to illustrate God’s wisdom at work in preparation.
Here are their insider preparation tips.
Joseph, Esther, and David held these beliefs:
- 1. God is alive
- 2. God is here where I am.
- 3. God is actively preparing me for His love and service.
Their stories share this background:
- 1. Conflict
- 2. Chaos, yet they were prepared to be,
- 3. Courageous and
- 4. Confident.
As you and I read their stories it may seem they were clueless about what they were being prepared for, but God wasn’t clueless.
David you recall was the fearless young man who, while observing Goliath, said, “Who does this worthless Philistine think he is? He’s making fun of the armies of the living God.” How did David come by such nerve? How did David even think to say these words? Preparation.
Esther was a stunning young women who listened and accepted as truth these words from her cousin Mordecai, “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for such a time as this?” Why was Esther able to rescue her people? Preparation.
Joseph was the brilliant young man who dreamed dreams, who was sold into slavery, who was falsely accused of adultery, who was sent to prison, who was the redeemer of his family. Joseph was Pharaoh’s top administrator and said to his stunned and terrified brothers, “Don’t worry or blame yourselves for what you did. God is the one who sent me ahead of you to save lives.” How could Joseph say such a thing after all he’d endured? Preparation.
We’re often inclined to think that if God is truly with us, things will be sugar and spice and everything nice. And when our life experience is snips and snails and puppy dog tales we’re inclined to imagine God has forgotten us.
Has the Lord forgotten or abandoned us? No. Consider what’s happening as: preparation. This will change your perspective of reality.
Joseph knew the horrible consequences of his brothers’ envy and hatred. Joseph knew the cruel outcome of being falsely accused. Joseph knew the grim despair of prison. His life appeared hopeless and it isn’t difficult to suppose that Joseph may have wondered, “God what were those dreams about?” Preparation.
Esther knew the uncertainty of her future when taken from her home. Esther knew the challenges of becoming and being the queen to the king. Esther knew the hostility of intolerance. Esther may have asked, “God what are you doing?” Preparation.
David knew the hazards of shepherding. David knew how to eliminate threats. David knew how to protect the family assets. David may have thought, “God are you actually here?” Preparation.
We are often battered by our circumstances. We conceive our situation as unique. We know not much about opportunity, tenacity, or commitment. These are often unexplored words for us. So, we become depressed, disheartened, and in the end, defeated. We’re convinced it’s just another ho-hum day. It isn’t. It’s another day of preparation.
David learned the skills he needed to succeed. David found God was with him and could be trusted. God had David acquire abilities that made him competent. David was prepared to defeat Goliath.
Esther came to see her beauty as a gift. Esther learned that God readied her to demonstrate his authority and power. God had Esther acquire favor and approval. Esther was prepared to take down Haman.
Joseph discovered from his hard knocks of betrayal, rejection, and loneliness. Joseph grasped God was with him, though to others it didn’t look like it. God had Joseph acquire the ability to rule. Joseph was prepared to defeat famine.
These three famous people give us a peek into God’s strategy of preparation. Again, it doesn’t appear anything is taking place in their circumstances. But something big was happening.
Every day God is busy getting us ready to serve. Preparation is never-ending. When will it stop? It will stop at our final breath.
So while we’re breathing, we’re curious to know, “what’s next?”
Whatever it is God is preparing you for it. Someone evil doesn’t want you to know about it.
All your circumstances are preparation opportunities. Keep in mind there is a treasure chest of wealth available for you when you see clearly where you are now and have the courage to change what needs to change so you can spend the riches of Jesus Christ.
Horrible things may happen without much sugar and spice. Will you welcome today’s preparation anyway?
