Making Preparation

Is there something that is on your "list" that you are preparing to do in the near future? A building project? A trip? A household chore? A speaking engagement? A ____ (you fill in the blank)? How are you preparing for it? Each one requires different types of preparedness.

Jesus asks us to be prepared for when he comes back. Jesus also challenges us to count the cost pertaining to the journey of following Him. Peter reminds us that we must get our minds ready for whatever comes our way so that we will be prepared to how we deal with the situation. Yesterday, we focused on the concept of "preparing our minds for action". Here are some applications to choose from from the lesson...

1. Sample Prayer for the Unexpected: "Lord, Your ways are higher than my ways, and I don't know what will happen today, be it in the next few minutes or hours away. Regardless of what it is, I ask that you help me to see what You want me to see through it. Help me to be fully prepared."
2. Sample Prayer for the Expected: "Father, I know that ____ is in the future. It is something that has been on my mind and I ask that You help me to use it to Your glory! I am Your instrument and I want to be used in the most effective way by You. Please guide me as I prepare for ____. Help me to be fully prepared."
3. Plan, in advance, what may happen next. Whether you're at the store and the line is long, someone you know is on your nerves, your service is terrible at a restaurant, someone asks you about your faith (or contests your faith), or a host of other possible scenarios, decide how you would deal with them that would reflect and honor Christ the most.

As we understand that preparation means we must be active, may we be a people who commit to making sure we're doing all we can to be prepared for things in the future.

Preparing my mind for action...