Spiritual Preparedness Through Grace
Week 3
Spiritual Preparedness Through Grace
Trusting God In Life’s Storms
Last week, we discussed Growing In The Stillness; this week, our focus is Spiritual Preparedness Through Grace. Being prepared for life’s storms is important in the growth of a Christian’s spiritual walk. Paul tells us, “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:15-19
Have you ever felt exhausted, drained, or just moving through your daily routine on autopilot? I'm sure you’re nodding your head; I think we can all say we've had at one point or another in our lives. When we are on an emotional front, whatever the situation, is when we can be most vulnerable. These are the times when we need God the most, to carry us through so that we may not stumble. When we are in this state of mind, it’s best to seek God first in all decisions, find comfort and strength in Him.
Spiritual Preparedness
Being spiritually prepared is a constant way of life; it’s the bread of life to our souls, to be filled by the grace of God’s Holy Spirit. I mentioned last week that a Christian is either facing a spiritual battle or coming out of one. Once we acknowledge this, we should always be prepared; our conversation, actions, and decisions are a testimony to where we stand in our morals, which come from our beliefs in God’s Word.
Prepare Through Grace, Not Chaos
When we face spiritual battles (conflicts) in life, we tend to start relying on our own logic, desires, and our selfish desire to get even or get our side of the story to be known. Remember, we should not face these battles by our own understanding, but look to our strength, our Lord and Savior, to guide us through with His Grace. Making quick and panicked decisions when we are not seeing clearly can cause chaos that will take longer to undo in the future.
God has answers to all our needs, He guides us through His Holy Word, and to gain this knowledge, we must be continual students of the Bible. To hide God’s Word in our hearts and minds so when the time comes, we may be prepared and won’t get weary.
God’s Grace
We are not expected to figure it all out. God is the captain; we should rely on Him to navigate us with our words, thoughts, and actions during the fog of a storm.
David’s Bravery
David was a shepherd and was accustomed to fighting predators. God delivered David from a lion and a bear and defeated Goliath. God didn’t need David’s strength, his good aim, or his warfare tactics to defeat the giant. God needed David to be obedient and step out on faith; God took care of the rest by guiding the stone.
Daniel’s Faith
Daniel was captured when he was young, and even though he was in a foreign land, he still obeyed God. God used Daniel many times during his captivity to be a living testimony of what God is capable of.
Noah’s Testimony
The time it took Noah and his family to prepare the ark that God instructed him to build. There were no sails, engine, or means to steer the massive ark; in fact, there were no plans for Noah to close the door. God needed Noah’s obedience. While he built the ark, he was living out a testimony to God, not for Noah’s sake, but to the unbelievers who watched. When the ark was finished, it was God Himself who shut the door of the ark.
Matthew 11:28-30
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
God’s Grace
We are to be good stewards and living testimonies of God’s grace through trying times. All the things mentioned above are testimonies of everyday individuals who were obedient to God. David, a shepherd, a captive, and Noah, a man of the land. When we have good fellowship with God, we can face any storm, trial, or challenge we may encounter.
Preparing for spiritual battle begins at the foot of God’s throne, to pray, be still, and find grace within His strength and not of our own capabilities. God is seeking the loyal, faithful, obedient individuals to do His will.
Navigate Confidently
God may not call us to be great ministers, public teachers, famous leaders, or defeat armies, but He asks us to put our trust and loyalty in Him. When we align our lives with God, purge distractions from our lives, and trust in His direction, we can confidently navigate life in a bold, conscious manner, knowing the Captain of our ship is God Himself.
