Be Prepared

Last month my son-in-law was on a field training exercise for the Army. I like that. The army doesn't just send these guys off to do battle in another country. They train them. They give them practice before the real fight. They teach them what kinds of things to expect and how to handle them before they ever happen. God is like that with us.

God calls us to spend time with Him, getting to know Him, meditating on His word, wallowing in His mercy before we get called on to enter the fight. He prepares us for the coming battles in a multitude of ways, but too often we are lazy and selfish and don't take advantage of His provision. Then we are surprised when the enemy knocks us off our feet.

When times get tough do you stop to thank God and ask Him to use this opportunity to stretch you, teach you and use you as an example of His faithfulness or do you ask "why me"? Do you remember how He has prepared you through His Word and His people for such a time as this or do you complain about how difficult your trial is? Do you seek to glorify Him or to garner sympathy for yourself?

God is good to give us times of peace and calm in order to give us time to prepare for the fight to come. I want to make sure that I am ready to stand firm when the day comes. In order to do that I need to make sure that I am spending time each day getting to know my Lord through His beautiful Word. All that we need is there, ready for us to study and meditate on so that when the trials come and the flood waters rise, we know that our anchor will hold firm.

Don't wait until the battle begins to gather your weapons. By then it is too late. You will have allowed the enemy a foothold and he will be that much harder to vanquish. Start now, this very day, getting yourself ready for whatever is to come in your future. No matter what happens: job loss, spouse dies, children turn from your teaching, or a friend deserts you, you will be more than a conqueror because you know that God will not leave you.