1 Peter 1:13 Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at His coming.
This verse opened up the Monday morning devotional I read entitled, "Be Prepared." This devotional spoke on the necessity of Christians to be "in training" as it were, like an athlete trains for a big race or game. Coming on the heals of our Sunday morning Bible Study lesson, where the Holy Spirit warned Paul of the suffering that awaited him in Jerusalem, I figure the Lord is trying to tell me to make sure I am ready for whatever is coming.
In Acts 20:22-23 Paul stated: "And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don't know what awaits me, except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead." I believe the Holy Spirit was giving Paul the time to prepare himself for what was to come. Whether through prayer, fasting, extra time in God's Presence, we are not given specifics, but Paul needed to be prepared not only to face the suffering that lay ahead, but to willing go forward and not run from it.
We don't know what the future for our lives holds. We do know that the world is drawing closer and closer to darkness. We have to be prepared to face all the challenges that we face whether personal or global. Temptations, trials, difficulties....we will face them. Jesus told us plainly in John 16:33 "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
It's our job to prepare beforehand to face these difficult times. Matthew 26:41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Jesus spoke these words to Peter, admonishing him to pray instead of sleep so that Peter would be able to withstand temptation. The same is true for us. We need to spend time in prayer, in study, in the Lord's presence, and learning Scripture, in order to be prepared for the battles that lie ahead. How can we overcome if we give ourselves no foundation to stand on?
Last year, I ran my first and probably only half-marathon. That's 13 miles of running! I could not have done that unless I trained, hours and hours of training. How much more important is spiritual training and preparedness!?!?!
Luke 21:36 Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
1 Thessalonians 5:6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded.
1 Peter 5:8 Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
Verse after verse we are told to prepare. To be alert and watchful. There is so much to stand against in this world, even in our own sinful natures. And I want to stand! I want my Lord to find me faithful when He comes.
None of us know the future, but we can spend time with the Lord now so that we are deeply rooted in Him when temptation or tragedy strike. And that is what I believe the Lord is saying today. Take the time now to study and pray. Don't be a foxhole Christian who only calls on the Lord when trouble arises. It's so easy to take for granted to quiet times, the easy times. So easy to get spiritually lazy. I fall into that pattern myself some days.
Lord, help us to prepare, to take seriously the warnings You give. Ground us in Your love, in Your holiness, in Your Presence. Lord, help us to overcome the temptation to be lazy Christians. Give us a firm foundation so that we can stand true and stand strong through the power of Your Holy Spirit. The closer we are to You, the more we will overcome. Give us the ability to shut our the distractions of this world. Lord, I want to glorify You. We all want to hear "well done, my good and faithful servant." Give us the desire to spend the time now in spiritual "training" as it were. You are so patient with us, so willing to teach and help us grow. Make us willing to learn and to work with You. In Jesus strong Name, amen.
Make a plan to set aside the time for "training."
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