The
Journey of Preparation
TODAY’S
SCRIPTURE
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his
steps.
Proverbs 16:9, NKJV.
TODAY’S
WORD
Oftentimes, God will use our experiences in life as
stepping stones to prepare us for what He has in store next. Scripture tells us
that He’ll even take the things the enemy tries to bring against us and turn
them around and use them for our good. He is always leading us on a journey of
preparation.
That’s why it’s so important to keep our eyes focused on
Him. We have to trust that when we are submitted to Him—even if we don’t
understand—He is ordering our steps. If something is not happening on your
timetable, remind yourself, “God knows what He is doing. He has my best
interest at heart. God is preparing me.” While you’re waiting, don’t make the
mistake of trying to figure everything out. If you’re constantly trying to figure
things out, that will only frustrate you. Turn it over to God. Declare, “God,
my times are in Your hands. I’m not going to worry because I trust that You are
leading me on a journey of preparation for all the wonderful blessings You have
in store for me.”
PRAYER
FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for Your goodness and faithfulness in
my life. I trust that You are leading and guiding me. I trust that You are
preparing me for all the wonderful blessings You have in store for me in Jesus’
Name. Amen.
***
13 hours ago
“I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands.” (Psalm 119:60 NIV)
This week, as we think about obedience and how to live it out, I want to look at five actions Joseph took in the first Christmas that showed his obedience to God.
When the angel appeared to Joseph in a dream, he told Joseph, “Do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20b NIV). So that’s what Joseph did. “When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife” (Matthew 1:24). He didn’t hesitate; he just did it.
There is a refreshing immediacy to Joseph’s relationship with God. When God said it, Joseph did it.
If you believe God loves you and you want to live a life of obedience in response to his love, then this is how you should respond. Living in immediate obedience to God is a kind of life that breathes with excitement and joy.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of great men and women of faith from around the world. They are all different from each other, but there is one thing they all have in common: When they sense God saying to do something, they don’t hesitate. They step out and do it.
First John 5:3 says, “This is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome.” So if something God asks you to do feels like a burden, what’s wrong? Usually it’s procrastination. When we don’t act right away, it becomes harder to do the longer we wait. But when we do what God says, the most refreshing freedom will come into our lives.
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