Oh, the word prepare.
My family has been hearing that word an awful lot lately and it is what God is telling us. But what in the world does that one word mean? Why is it important that we prepare? What is it that we need to prepare, and prepare for? Only God knows the answers to those questions, so in the meantime we keep praying for that to be revealed.
What does it even mean to prepare? Well, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, the word prepare means to make or get something or someone ready for something that will happen in the future. The Oxford Dictionary defines it as, to make (something or someone) ready for use or consideration.
It seems to be getting a bit clearer to me. I’ve been praying and asking God for confirmation and to clarify why the word matters and what to prepare. Some verses have stood out during my bible study time:
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 1:13
If you would prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him. – Job 11:13
Stand fast and prepare yourselves, For the sword devours all around you. – Jeremiah 46:14
Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house. – Proverbs 24:27
Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. – Jeremiah 1:17
Have you ever had one of those things that God just won’t leave you alone about? The whole prepare word is that for my husband and me. The word first came to us individually, and then we shared it with each other which led to confirmation that it was indeed from God. We would be at church and our senior pastor or associate pastor would speak and there it was again. During my bible study time, again. In books that I was reading, again. OK. God. I get the point. PREPARE. But I still didn’t know why.
Finally, the word came up again. This time during one of Christine Caine’s lessons that I watching. This time it was different. There was an added piece that was missing. She said “Preparation precedes provision.”
Now I know I love alliteration, but this was more. It was an explanation. My husband and I have been praying about many things, but mostly for answers regarding the next move for our family. Now it makes sense. We are in preparation for God’s provision. We are in preparation for His promises.
But there’s a catch.
This is not only preparation of our finances, getting our house in order for a possible, future sale. This is about so much more. I’ve mentioned before how God has been moving in our family this past year. The key is we have been following Him. We have been diligently tithing. We have been spending time with Him and meditating on His Word. We have been in fellowship with other believers and looking for places to serve. We are preparing and aligning our hearts and our whole beings with God, while He is preparing and making the way for His promises and provisions. We still do not know when or how those will happen, but we stay the course.
We prepare with expectant hearts because we know who is in control. All things work together for our good.
What are some of the things you have been waiting for? Is it possible that God wants you to prepare for His provisions? Take some time over the next week and pray about how God might want you to prepare as you wait in expectation of His promises.
