Preparing for Battles and Blessings

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10

The emergency room visit that you almost didn’t survive, the diagnosis you didn’t expect, the book you don’t feel qualified to write, the career change you didn’t plan. The unknown is always at our door step. Who will open the door? Fear or Courage?

What if you could feel prepared to face whatever comes across your doorstep? What if we opened the door to the unknown and welcomed it in with a courageous heart that is equally prepared for battle as it is for blessing?

A Warrior of Hope is prepared for her future

As I shared last week, my Word of the Year is “Prepare”. The first thing I asked God about this word was, “am I preparing for battle or blessing?”. He answered, “both”.

Have you ever heard the saying “He just didn’t have his head in the game?” or maybe, “His heart just wasn’t in it.” Sometimes when we don’t perform well or win a race or have success in a game, these are some of the things we will say to explain the loss.

But the truth may be that we were not prepared. I don’t want to be caught unprepared for what God has in store for me. I don’t want you guy’s to say “Her heart just wasn’t in it” or “Her head was somewhere else.” I want to know that I have paid attention to what God said and make sure I am prepared for what lies ahead! Blessing or battle!

 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.” 1 Peter 1:13 (MSG)

We need to be ready for action, we need to be in spiritual shape. So lets roll up our sleeves and put our mind in gear. Let’s be diligent in our prayer life and be actively studying the Word of God. This is not a time to be lazy and slip back into our old habits.

This past year I have spent a lot of time re-developing my spiritual disciplines. I have created a more intentional and intense prayer time. I have been in the Word of God on a daily basis and I have been more active in serving within my community.

Now is not the time to back slide. My first step in preparedness needs to be obedience. The second half of this verse tells us exactly what we need to do with our obedience. Let yourself be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life. We have been given an example of how to live our lives. This is not a boring life, but an holy life, a energetic life that is blazing with holiness!

With preparation comes success. When we are ready for the race, we won’t get winded or injured or knocked out by what the world throws at us.

John 16:33 reminds us that Jesus has already won the battle and for that reason, when the unknown is at our door step, it will be courage that answers the door!

I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world. John 16:33 (CSB)

I don’t know what God has planned for this year, the fact that I am writing a book to be published this fall, may have something to do with it. I don’t know how the journey ahead of me is going to go, if there are storms to battle, disappointments or scary big success, but I do know that God has given me a heads up to be prepared.

Let’s prepare our hearts in prayer to step up to the door and open it wide to welcome the unknown with a courageous voice.

Heavenly Father we praise you that you have conquered this world and have prepared for us a path to follow to live energetic lives that are blazing with your holiness. We look forward to the blessing you have prepared for us this year and walk in courage as we step up onto the podium and accept our prize won due to our obedience in making our hearts and soul prepared for your glory. In your holy name we pray. Amen