Prepare me for whatever is next

We began this year with the word prepare and through the journey these devotions have looked at preparing our

 heart

mind

hands

thoughts

words

walk

Something along the way has changed my focus.

Normally, I would say I am one who thinks about, "What would Jesus do" and, "Is this what God wants for me?" quite often. But, I'm not always aware of how He is preparing me for what's next. This can create some nervous hearts and anxious thoughts. Being the control freak that I am I have difficulty letting Go and allowing God to completely lead, especially when I do not know what is next!

What if in the midst of situations we could have an understanding that God is preparing our

hearts to be affected

words to say what is necessary

 hands to work hard

hands receive what he has for us

hearts to worship.

Sometimes before my husband and I go on a to trip I do some preparation. I think about what we need to pack, what items of clothing we need, and if I need snacks.  For sure, I need my Starbucks via in case the coffee isn't any good! Yes, I'm a coffee snob. Then there is the question regarding shoes. This is a difficult decision for me because as I am thinking through boots, flip-flops, workout shoes, heels, and flats I am also wondering, "will I be comfortable, am I going to be doing a lot of walking, how will these look and will I really workout?"

Fortunately when we go visit our daughters, I just take their stuff ! I don't have to prepare too much because I know that they will have things on hand for me.

This journey of being prepared is a lifelong process. 

Spiritually, it begins with understanding God's very nature and then asking Him, "What do you require of me?"

Daily, If we want to be prepared, let us consider what our response to the Lord 's direction is. Do we gladly receive what His word directs us to do? Are we PREPARED to offer back to God our hearts, mouth, hands, thoughts and our very lives?

As I came to the end of this study, I realized that I am not done with preparing, my preparation has only just begun.

Where will God begin to prepare me next? Check back soon to see how the Lord will begin preparing me in other areas.

If you missed any of the Preparation devotions you can find the complete list here.

Prepare me to Walk with God

Day 30

I have been studying what it means to walk with God. Sounds like a nice stroll doesn't it?

Let's look at Psalm 116:8-9

For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.

David declares that because of what God had done for him, that walking with God meant that he must act and live under God's favor and guidance.

I particularly love the phrase "before" the Lord.  The picture that David paints for us is that we will live our lives in the presence of God. Not at a distance but in front of Him. It is interesting that the word "before" can also be translated as "Face". This changes the meaning slightly to  "I shall walk in front of the face of the Lord." It changes how I think about what I choose to do, when I know that everything is done before Him.

Prepare me Lord to walk before your face

How do we act and live under God's favor and Guidance?

Get to know Jesus by reading His word.

That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. 2 Timothy 1:12

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, Philippians 3;10

When we seek to know Him, then we start to become like Him.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the 

Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15

We are called His children and He is our Father, because of this we can walk before Him knowing that we have favor in His sight.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26

The Holy Spirit is a part of our lives to guide, direct and counsel us. He intercedes on our behalf even when we do not have the words to say. 

How is your walk going? How would it change if you had the thought that you were living your life in front of Jesus?

Prayer

Prepare us Lord to Walk with you. Trusting that as we do so before your face, you will guide us, strengthen us, counsel us and protect us. 

Prepare my hands to be lifted high

Day 29

The moment a worship song begins, my heart is lifted, my mind is lifted, my soul is lifted, my eyes begin to look heavenward and my hands are lifted high.

It seems to be a natural response for my body to want to try to get close to you Lord as if my fingertips are touching Heaven. I just want to get close to you. 

In Luke 10:38-42, When Mary and Martha were with Jesus. Martha is serving, and serving, and serving and her sister Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus. When Martha begins to complain, Jesus says, "Mary has gotten it right, there was only one thing that is needed". He was talking about Focused worship!

Prepare my hands to worship you Lord!

The one thing that is needed is for us to willingly submit to Jesus and then worship his holy name. If that requires us to raise our hands, so be it! There are lots of forms of worship but for me, something happens when I lift my hands. I don't care what people think, I don't care who sees me because all I want to do is reach out to Jesus and say "I love you, I worship you, I praise you and I declare you as Savior and Lord."

Now raising your hands is not a condition to being a Christian and it is not a condition for salvation. But the Lord has prepared me to raise my hands and worship Him and so I must.

I Timothy 2:8, “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.”

Sometimes even during the day if I'm driving in my car and a worship song comes on I don't even know how to respond unless I lift one of my hands with the other one firmly on the steering wheel. It's a natural response for me.

What's your natural response to worship? I love to hear about it.

Prepare my hands to be lifted high!

Prepare my hands to receive your blessings

Day 28

Someone shared with me that when we pray we should stretch out our hands. First with our palms down, symbolizing that we have a light grip on the things of our life. When your hands are palms down we're offering things back to the Lord and giving him everything.

Try it! It is amazing how it changes your focus. Instead of give me, give me. It's Lord, here is what I have, I offer it to you.  Then in an attitude of humility, 

"I'm ready to receive whatever you have for me."

 The Lord has a lot but he wants to give us.

Ask and you shall receive seek and you will find knock and the door will be open to you.

There are so many blessings that He wants to give to us if we would only sit in a seat of submission and humility waiting to receive.

Prepare my hands to receive what you have for me

Blessings come in many ways

happy blessings 

monetary blessings

friendship blessings 

emotional blessings 

comforting blessings 

joyful blessings 

There are also blessings that come in the midst of suffering. Those painful moments in our lives that we would love to wish away, God wants to bless us in the midst of them. He desires that we would know him more and to understand the pains of others. He is the God of all comfort who want to comfort us so that we might be a comfort to others. 

In time of suffering we are challenged to hold onto him like never before.

Right now my mom's dementia is manageable but it's hard and there are days I would wish it away. In fact just this morning I was praying Lord heal her mind, replace what's been taken, give me back my old mom and yet I've learned so much about how to care, how to be patient, how to let things go, how to live in the moment and how to find joy in suffering.

There have been blessings even though there has been pain

Take a moment to stretch out your hands palm down and give to the Lord those things in your life that are difficult. Try and give it all to him.

Now turn over those palms face up and declare, "Lord I am ready to receive whatever you have for me."

Prepare our hands to receive from you amen

Prepare my hands to loosen their grip

Day 27

The video from Finding Nemo where the birds are squawking, "mine, mine, mine" cracks me up. It also resonates with my inability to let go of things. I believe it is because I have held onto material things as if they belong to me!
The truth is everything in this world belongs to God. 

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." I Corinthians 10:26

Having open hands with our possessions means that we see ourselves as stewards of them and not owners.

David knew this very well and describes it in I Chronicles 29:12-16

Wealth and honor come from you;
you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
to exalt and give strength to all.
Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

“But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope. Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a temple for your Holy Name comes from your hand, and all of it belongs to you.

Do you have things that you are holding onto with a death grip? Is it difficult for you to share them with others? What would it look like if you loosened that grip and offered it back to God?

What if today as you start your car, pick up your phone, drink your coffee, you stop and thank God for His provision and His graciousness to allow you to use His things? Maybe then our hands will hold onto things with a lighter grip.

Prayer
Everything comes from you, help me to be a gracious and sharing servant of your possessions.

Prepare my hands to serve

Day 26

and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave; just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." Matthew 20:27-18

Slave-devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests

Serving others in the name of Jesus can be tough. It is difficult see ourselves as His servants but this is what we must dedicate ourselves to.

It starts with the preparation and asking the Lord to direct you

With all of my heart-Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, Ephesians 6:7

Working for the Lord-Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23

Humbly Serving-serve one another humbly in love. Galatians 5:13

Using my Gifts-Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. I Peter 4:10

Who is the Lord asking you to serve today?

Prayer

Prepare my hands to serve you Lord with my all of my heart. Be my focus, help me to humbly serve others, show me how to use the gifts that you have given me. 

Prepare my eyes to focus on Jesus

 

Day 25

Have you ever noticed what you focus on is what you see?

I remember when it was so popular for those pictures that if you stared at it long enough you would see a picture jump out at you. It's a kind of picture within a picture here's an example. This one is titled summer is coming. No I never did see the image. It is supposed to be a girl eating an ice cream and holding a balloon!

I never was really good at it. Some say you if you have astigmatism it's hard for your eyes to focus, which I do. (just trying to rationalize why I can't see it.) I think that I just didn't have the patience to stay there long enough for it to pop up. Although every once in a while this magical event happened. When I was staring at one of these pictures if I could just focus my eyes long enough, something would just pop out and this other picture would come to life.

Today I'm asking the Lord to prepare my eyes to be fixed on Jesus for some of the same reasons.

When we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and perfector of our faith we begin to see things differently.

Instead of being bothered by an interruption, if my eyes are fixed on Jesus then I will ask, "what would you have me do in the midst of this situation?"

When I don't know what to do in life with any problem that has arisen, if my eyes are fixed on Jesus then I know what to do!

How did Jesus respond when he encountered trouble? He would find a solitary place and then he would pray. Lord help me to pray for your wisdom!

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35

When I am saddened by loss, human nature or by evil, if my eyes are fixed on Jesus then I know how to respond. Jesus tells us that He is with us and that He is coming back. Because of this I place my hope in him. His promises change my attitude.

I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:20

During those times that I am being selfish, when I look at Jesus and focus on his life I see that He considered others as more important than himself. His sacrifice teaches me to be patient with others and humble.

just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28

How would focusing your eyes on Jesus change your day?

We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne. Hebrews 12:2

Prayer

Jesus just as a horse will often have guides by his eyes to keep him focused, be my blinder! Focus my eyes on you, your kingdom and your plan! Remove anything that takes my eyes off of you!

Prepare my eyes to see suffering

Day 24

Prepare my eyes to see the hurting.

No matter where I have gone in the world there are people suffering, hurting, in need.

Desperate, struggling for the most basic of needs- shelter, water, food, clothing and medicine. While others are hurting because they have been shunned by society simply because of their skin color or class system or gender.

Some are hurting because they've made choices in their life and the consequences of those choices have become too much to bear. Nevertheless, all of these people are seen by God, loved by God and cherished by God.

He has a plan and a purpose for them, so please God prepare my eyes to see the hurting. Not just so that I may see them, but that I might act on God's behalf.

Last year we took a team from our church to Colombia you can read more about that here.

 One girl stole my heart. As we were walking up the side of a hill   that was not paved, My eyes took in the completely dusty, dirty  trash littered area. It was pretty desolate and bleak .We saw many types of people; young and old, male and female, healthy and sick. They were all hurting one way or another. Each of them had a story and as we looked at them there was a common thread- pain, hurt, and need.

Just as I was at my breaking point because my heart was so full of emotion for these children of God who were in desperate need of love. God gave me a gift.

A girl that I had worked with just the day before came running out to greet me from her very modest home. We had a connection from the day prior as I had the privilege of loving her in Jesus name by washing her hands and feet, washing her hair and combing out the nits. We connected in the power of Jesus love, it bound us together.She came to greet me and shower me with a hug and a gift. I was so humbled because her eyes saw me as someone in need.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Who needs to be seen by you today? How can you reach out in Jesus name to them?

Prayer
Oh Jesus the one who sees us and our need, you beckon us to come to yourself when we are tired and hungry and needing rest. Give us eyes to see those who need that as well. Give us words of comfort to share with them. Guide us in our decision to love them and touch them in your name. We ask that you would remove any scales from our eyes that we might see them clearly

Prepare my eyes to see my sin

Day 23

Open my eyes to see my sin, wow that is heavy.
It's difficult sometimes to really open our eyes and look at ourselves and who we really are. It is as if we were looking at some horrific scene, we turn your eyes away from the unpleasant, unlovely, terrifying reality of our sinfulness.

As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; Romans 3:10

For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God Romans 3:23

I remember being a young Christian and someone saying, "name your sin, don't sugarcoat it, name it."

Instead of saying I am a sinner, Lord forgive me of my sins.
Try to say,

Lord I have lied, I am a liar, forgive me for lying.
Lord I have wished harm on someone, I am a murderer for wishing them harm.
I have had lustful thoughts, I am an adulterer
Or my personal favorite
I am a gossiper, I gossip, Lord forgive me for gossiping.

Something changes when we look squarely in the eye of our sin and realize it is us who wears that odor, it is not pleasant, it is not fun, it is unpopular to admit this. When our eyes are open to our sinfulness, we can come openly before God.

The good news is Jesus loves us and says that we are his friend. We are forgiven of our sins if we will just come honestly before Him and ask to be a
washed in his blood, his forgiveness and then in his restoration.

Prayer
Thank you Jesus for cleansing me, for making me look at my sin. Only you can remove that stain of our sin. Would you make me white as snow, white as snow, white as snow?

Prepare my eyes to see your children

Day 22

Every day we encounter all types of people; young and old, healthy and sick, men and women, children and adults, Christian and non Christian, happy and sad. The question I am contemplating is do we really see them the way Jesus does?

Prepare my eyes to see people the way He does!

To do this we must consider the ways in which Jesus interacted with others.

Blind man-Gently touching and healing his eyes
Lame-He heals the man even on a Sunday
Woman caught in adultery-Lovingly, tells her that he does not condemn her.
Children-He asks the children come to Him
Centurian-Validated his faith and healed his servant
Rich young ruler-Challenged him to give all he had
Peter-Forgave him and restored their relationship

In all of these situations we see Him looking at the people and responding in ways that met peoples needs.

This week I had an encounter with a first grader that was very difficult.  I have to say I did not see him in the way Jesus does.  I saw him as a burden, a problem, unlovely and quite frankly a big ole headache! I am going to try and readjust my eyes and see him the way Jesus does.

hurting

vulnerable

broken

in need of love

in need of guidance

Just writing those words changes my view and attitude.

Who can you look at differently today? How would Jesus see them? 

Prayer
Lord prepare our eyes to have your vision of others. Help us to understand how to love them the way that you do.

Prepare my Eyes to see Your Hand

Day 21

There are so many situations in my life where I could trace back something that happened to God's intervention. I wonder if you have one of those situations in your life?

I do believe that He is at work every moment of every day even when we may not comprehend that it's His hand. Could this possibly be because we were not looking? Years ago the song, "Trust His heart" was very popular.

God is too good to be unkind. So when you don't understand. When don't see his plan. When you can't trace his hand. Trust His Heart He sees the master plan by Babbie Mason.

I think I might rewrite that song to say, "when you can't see his plan, trace the things that have happened back to him".

When we share prayer requests with each other we often track when they have been answered. It's such a glorious time of reflecting on God's goodness. We would miss so much of his provision if we didn't take time to look.

God's provision and protection are all around us.

He provided a friend at just the right moment to provide comfort in your life or encouragement
An unexpected snow day gave you the rest that you needed

You begin working with a group of people and realize that you all have different gifts that can be amazing together

That special song that lifts your spirit came on the radio just when you needed it most

You've been praying for confirmation and then your devotion that morning was exactly what you needed

You have no money and yet you give faithfully to God's work and every month your needs are met

Open our eyes to see God's hand at work!

One of my very favorite verses tells us to watch and see what God will do.

Look at the nations and watch-- and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind! Psalm 66:5

Prayer
Oh magnificent creator, author and perfector of our faith. You are the designer of the heavens and of our amazing bodies. We come to you today and ask that you would reveal yourself to us. Help us to see with eyes that are open to your glorious riches, to your gentle hand and to your plentiful providing.
We do not want to miss what you have for us. May we see clearly that it has been you and it has been your attention to our lives that have caused the many blessings that we have been given. We give you praise and thank you for your surprises of grace. May we never take you for granted.

Prepare My mouth to declare your Praises

Day 20

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever I will sing, I will sing.

In our society so often we think about getting credit for ourselves. We are crying out, "look at me, look at me, look at me"!

We all have a high need for recognition and it can be difficult to think about asking the Lord to declare his praises through our mouth. This is just giving him what he deserves- honor, glory, praise, and worship.

When something good happens do you say, "praise God" not just in your heart and your mind but vocally with your mouth declaring his grace?

When you get a blessing

an increase in your pay

getting on the flight that you were hoping to get on

your team wins

What is your first instinct? Is it to say yes I deserve this? Or do you Begin to praise God?

Declaring His praise is a simple as saying,"God is good", "thank you Jesus", "thank you Lord", it could be a declaration that He is so good to us, that he always provides for our needs. 

Warning!!! Some may say that this is holy roller talk or you have gone off the deep end to always be praising God . They may even suggest that not everything good in your life comes from God. I disagree, Scripture says every good and perfect gift comes from above.

If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! Matthew 7:11

If you believe that God is your father and if you believe that he loves you then you have to believe that every good thing in your life is from him, and he deserves our praise.

In recent years there's been much talk about being thankful. Anne Voskamp wrote a wonderful book 1000 gifts that focuses on being grateful and giving praise back to God. Thank you Anne and for reminding us that there's so much to be thankful for.

But others in our society have also talked about being grateful but don't give the glory to God. They just think about being grateful as a change of your heart and while that is important it is more important to know your source of joy and to give Him the praise and adoration that are due Him because He is the giver.

How many things could you thank God for today?

Prayer

Thank you Father that I got a good nights sleep and I'm on my way to a job that I love. I have a car to drive.
Thank you for blessing me with good health, for lungs that work and that are not sick. Thank you Jesus for saving me. I am grateful for your relationship and your constant care including your abiding love.  

I praise you God for technology, for a computer that works and Internet that connects me to the world. I praise you for giving us the ability to communicate in other languages. I praise you because you are worthy to be praised.

Thank you for preparing my mouth to sing your praises for you alone are worthy of it!

Prepare my mouth to teach

Day 19

Who me, a teacher?

I can hear all of the responses to this already! Many of you are saying, "I can't teach! That is not my gift!" I have news for you, You are already teaching.

If you are 

A parent, you teach your children

A friend, you teach your friends

A spouse, you teach your spouse

A co-worker, you teach your co-workers

A teacher, you teach your students.

God has given us the best lesson plan that I know of, His word. 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 2 Timothy 3:16

We have been given something that is inspired by God himself and it is the very thing that we can teach to others. 

Teach-show or explain to (someone) how to do something.

Even if you do not have the gift of teaching you have been equipped by the word of God to share His truth with others. The next time someone asks you how to do something or help with a problem, go to the answer book and then share what you find with them. 

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

Prayer

Father thank you that you have equipped us for every situation. Your word instructs us and prepares us to be teachers to those around us. Show us how to serve others in you name today.

Prepare my mouth to be cleaned up!

Day 18

Warning!! Clean up on aisle 1. Our mouths need a good cleaning. Well maybe it is just mine.

There is no shortness of verses in the bible that talk about out purifying our mouths.  No wonder our Grandmothers threatened to wash them out with soap.  Again, maybe that was just mine!

The goal is that our mouth, what we say and the condition of our heart should be acceptable to God. How are you doing this area?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

I love that orbit commercial-Dirty mouth, clean it up!    

God says, "Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder. Zephaniah 3:9

He wants to remove anything unholy from our mouth so that we might praise HIM! 

We also will be held accountable for the things that we say! There is going to be a long list for me.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, Matthew 12:36

Our speech should build others up, not tear them down!

Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29

If you have trouble with having a holy mouth then this verse is for both of us!

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalm 141:3

Prayer

We confess to you Lord that we have not been diligently watching over what we say. Set a guard over our lips. Remove the old and replace it with new encouraging and building up language.