Day 29: Be Ready

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. — 1 Peter 3:15

Stand therefore… having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace. — Ephesians 6:14-15

In the moment, it’s sometimes difficult to recognize a God-ordained opportunity. Perhaps all our moments are God-ordained in a sense, but I’m sure there are a lot of things we do that mostly feel like routine. Sometimes, however, God drops an opportunity in our laps to promote change in someone’s life, or at least plant a seed.

On a trip we made this summer, I wanted to visit one of my cousins whom I seldom see because she is on the other side of the country. We’d let her know in advance that we’d be around, but on that day she was helping a friend and said she would not be available until later. We had a five hour drive through the mountains ahead of us and we were quite near to deciding to just get on the road. After all, if she really wanted to see us would she not have made herself available earlier, at the time that was convenient for us? 

But still, somehow God prompted us to wait, and we finally connected with her at a coffee shop in the afternoon. As it turned out, she was going through a hard time, and we were able to encourage her to draw near to God’s heart of compassion. I believe it gave her some strength to face an issue, forgive, and be reconciled with an important person in her life.

The sooner we recognize God opportunities for what they are, the quicker we can get on-board with what He is trying to do or say through us, even if it’s inconvenient. How many of us have missed great opportunities to impact others because we didn’t seize or recognize the moment that unfolded before us? Sometimes we give up too easily.

There’s a book called The 10 Second Rule that is about deciding to obey God in the first 10 seconds of a situation that presents itself. One factor is being ready. Not necessarily to have all the answers, but to be available, and yes, to have already prepared our hearts.

Maybe today?

Father,

11 We keep on praying to you, asking our God to enable us to live a life worthy of Your call. Please give us the power to accomplish all the good things our faith in You prompts us to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way we live, and we will be honored along with Him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. In His Name we pray, Amen. 

2 Thess 1:11-12

Has the Lord been asking you to do something that you have avoided?
10 Seconds have long gone, but God has placed someone on your heart; to apologize to, to ask how they are doing, to encourage, to forgive, to minister to, to give a financial gift to – why have you not gone? Will you go today? Are you ready? Consecrated people are ready.

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