What is God Preparing You for?
Preparation is essential and strategic. Jesus prepared for 30 years. Were those wasted years? Of course not! Every moment of preparation with God is vital. Prayer Trail, Soul Marking #1
How Prepared is Your Heart for what is ahead?
What we are doing today matters! You may not think you’re preparing today for tomorrow, but you are.
Think of all the things that you prepare for: meals, clothes, trips – vacations, go see grandkids, or retreats, presentations, teaching/preaching, etc. Preparation is what we have to do before getting to the “good stuff.” However . . .
Preparation is a vital aspect of the good stuff
Preparation is tedious, can be time-consuming, can make us restless or anxious, but it is absolutely essential, and I now find great joy in preparation. It is taking life, especially my spiritual life, seriously. In reality, Preparation is a vital aspect of the good stuff.
Kristi makes a great enchilada casserole. It’s a homerun with the family every time. But suppose she makes it next time and omits the garlic salt. It doesn’t require much, but can you imagine the result without it? Or the next time you make brownies, try leaving out the oil . . . ugh! Preparation is a vital aspect of the good stuff.
I’m writing the next several posts from my encounters with God on the Prayer Trail on the campus at the former Potter’s Inn, now The Glenmoore at Aspen Ridge, Divide, CO.
The Prayer Guide, written uniquely by Steve and Gwen Smith,[1] guides your journey. Every milestone on the trail is created to be a Soul Marking, an encounter with God, not just a pause or box to check. I hope you are expecting soul-marking encounters with God as we walk the trail together.
Soul Marking #1 Preparation:
Preparation – The bench here, surrounded by a collection of driftwood and broken pottery, makes me reflect. What clutter impedes my preparation to walk more deeply with God? What broken places do I need to acknowledge? This Prayer Trail is a sacred journey. So I pray . . .
Still my heart, O, Lord.
I check my pulse, and my heart is beating more rapidly, not out of fear, but from anticipation at God’s invitation to be with Him. I rejoice in His call,
8 When You said, “Seek My face,”
My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.” Psalm 27:8, NKJV
Prepare my soul.
Remind me, O Lord, that I am your Beloved and that you are more desirous to meet me on this sacred journey than I am to walk it. Your loving gaze is on me even now, and your eyes will brighten more (if that’s even possible) as I walk forward with you. You greatly anticipate this walk with me!
Focus my mind
My type A personality, ADD brain (never diagnosed, lol!), ENTJ (Myers-Briggs), #8 Enneagram type – Well, I think you get the idea. I am both driven and distracted. My mind must be focused or, well, the results are not pretty.
My #1 way to focus my mind is to spend time in silence and stillness with Jesus. (To read more, click here) I put all my worries and to-do list on a shelf, and I just be with Jesus.
I rest in His arms. I feel his embrace. I hear Him say, “You are my Beloved, I’m well pleased with you.” I’m now focused and ready.
Open my soul
Now I worship! “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart. I want to see You. I want to see you!”
As a part of worship, I pray: Asking God to give me grace to listen, to hear, to understand, and to obey.
Why is the Soul-Marking of Preparation so crucial?
I want to experience the depths of Jesus Christ. I want to travel with Him in unspeakable joy. I want Him to have my whole heart!
13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13, CSB
Practical Reasons to mark my life with preparation
The next picture presents a new perspective; the focus is on the trail ahead. It looks inviting, the Aspen are gorgeous, but you can only see so far. Your heart is prepared, but what might be around that bend?
How many of you know what is going to happen next week? Have you watched the news lately? You may know what’s on your calendar . . . but you are powerless over what may or may not happen.
Something big may be ahead . . .
There is a warning on the door of our cabin, “Colorado is bear country!” The bears have stayed hidden, but we are surely alert to the possibility.
Big or small, there is something unknown in your future. Are you ready?
Jesus said, “Build your house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24. The future is unknown, but Jesus, my Rock, is known and fully trusted.
Something difficult or costly could be ahead
Some dear friends of ours were rear-ended by an uninsured driver last week. Oh, my, both difficult and costly. Neck injuries are apparent. The car may be totaled. There was no way to prepare for that. How would you handle something like that?
Jesus said, “Follow me.” Luke 9:23-24. He also said, “Count the cost.” Luke 14: 27-28. What cost might you have to pay to go deeper with Jesus?
Something important is ahead
The important things are already here! Dr. W. Oscar Thompson asked my seminary class, “Other than proper names, what is the most important word in the English language? Most immediately said, “Love.” Wrong answer. He declared,
“The most important word is relationship, because without a relationship, love has nowhere to go!”
How are you protecting and investing in your most crucial relationships? Jesus? Family?
An enterprising reporter interviewed 40 Boomers (my age group) about what they regretted most. The number one answer, “I wish I’d spent more time with family.[2]
When Kristi and I experienced Soul Care and spiritual direction 7 years ago, we committed to continuing this transformational journey for the rest of our lives. With tears, we also said, “If this only benefits us, our kids, and grandkids, it will be worth it!”
Paul declared, “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters. . .” (Emphasis mine)
What really matters to us? Jesus, family, and building up the Body of Christ. What really matters to you?
A great blessing could be ahead
Correction: Great blessings are already here! Why? Because I am prepared, alert, open, and seeking the Lord with all my heart. Please be reminded, Jesus is that blessing. God told Abraham, “I am your great reward.”
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” Genesis 15:1 NIV
My most important preparation
When I am making preparations in my life with God, I am making the most important preparation in my life.
I am going into the presence of the one who loves me and calls me Beloved.
I’m going into the presence of the one who invites me to come boldly before his throne of grace. That does not mean I come haphazardly. It means that he welcomes me with his loving gaze!
My prayer for you today is that you will prepare your heart, spend time with Jesus, and receive His loving gaze. You are Beloved!
Belovedness: Receive it. Embrace it. Live it. Give it away!
[1] You may find Stephen W. Smith @pottersinn on Substack. I highly recommend all his books, especially Embracing Soul Care, The Jesus Life, and Inside Job.
[2] https://vegoutmag.com/lifestyle/z-i-asked-40-boomers-what-they-regret-most-about-their-life-and-the-same-3-answers-kept-showing-up/
Recently I have stopped all forms of social media and television entertainment and replaced it with a wide variety of God centered reading. It has prepared me for such many different situations, personal life challenges and opportunities to serve others. My husband and I now call my time away for all distractions redeemed time! God redeemed my all of wasted time spent scrolling and being entertained by the things of this world because I was unknowingly preparing!