Are You Prepared

Christian, are you preparing yourself for a battle regardless of what takes place?  Have you come too far to turn back?  Are you getting yourself spiritually fit, striving for perfection?

Think of how a professional athlete becomes a champion in their sport.  They spend hours training and preparing themselves for each competition but before that they get themselves in the best physical condition that they can be in.  They work on strength training for hours depending on the sport they are preparing for.  They not only work on the outside, trimming excess weight, but also getting cut and lean if they are bikers or runners or in any kind of sport that takes a lot of stamina.  These athletes know that they need to be in good mental form also, so they condition the mind so that it functions well with the body, studying and learning many things that will help them be more alert to anything that could hinder them from being a winner.  Their goal is to win and nothing else will fully satisfy them, second place is never good enough for a professional athlete.  Some will try to win at any cost, that is how dedicated they are.

Christians can learn from their example how to better prepare themselves for the everyday battle that they face and for the ongoing battle that lies ahead.  Are you ready if you have to face hardships and persecution which may be more severe than what you normally face?  No one knows exactly what the future holds for Christians but whatever it is the Lord will be there with each of us to help take us to victory.  In the meantime, we need to be preparing ourselves for the battle that lies ahead.  

It isn’t hard to serve the Lord when things are going well and you are not facing much opposition, but would you still feel that same way if you had to face struggles beyond your ability to control and you had to completely depend on the Lord?  There are people that have to depend on the Lord for every meal, they can’t go to the store or a restaurant anytime they are hungry, sometimes they go without eating for a day or maybe more, until someone helps them.  They know what it is to totally depend on God. Think about how easy you have it and how thankful you should be, it may not be that way forever.

This is not a gloom and doom message; no, I want to encourage you to be prepared so if it happens you will be ready.  There are some encouraging promises in the Word like this one in Deuteronomy 31:6, “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”   And also in Hebrews 13:5, “Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said, ‘I will never fail you.  I will never abandon you.”’

Read these encouraging words in Psalms 37:22-25:

“Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,

    but those he curses will die.

The Lord directs the steps of the godly.

    He delights in every detail of their lives.

Though they stumble, they will never fall,

    for the Lord holds them by the hand.

Once I was young, and now I am old.

    Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned

    or their children begging for bread.”

God is our only real hope for today and also for our future and King David knew it when he said this in Psalms 27:1-6:

“The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    so why should I be afraid?

The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,

    so why should I tremble?

When evil people come to devour me,

    when my enemies and foes attack me,

    they will stumble and fall.

Though a mighty army surrounds me,

    my heart will not be afraid.

Even if I am attacked,

    I will remain confident.

The one thing I ask of the Lord—

    the thing I seek most—

is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

    delighting in the Lord’s perfections

    and meditating in his Temple.

For he will conceal me there when troubles come;

    he will hide me in his sanctuary.

    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Then I will hold my head high

    above my enemies who surround me.

At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,

    singing and praising the Lord with music.”

There are so many promises in the Word, for believers, that we can stand on and rely on, that should encourage us at all times.  But we need to do our part also and prepare for whatever we may face.

Do what it says in Ephesians 6:10-18:

“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 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.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

These things are so important, so put on the whole armor of God each and every day and walk in the Spirit, hiding God’s Word in your heart that you may not sin against Him, and seek Him and His kingdom above all the other things in your life.  Spend time with Him and be prayed up so that you will be ready for anything that lies ahead of you and so that you will be able to thank and praise the Lord in your most difficult times, even more than you do now.  Get ready to shout the victory cry in the end because Jesus is coming to take us home to be with Him, praise the Lord!! Something to think about, have a super day and may God bless you and yours!!