"Are You Ready?"
- Rita Larson
- Oct 12, 2023
- 4 min read
Please continue to pray for peace and protection over Israel, and for us and the entire team with us from Relate Church to get home safely! This morning, as I woke up in the war-torn country of Israel, I lay thinking of how God has prepared Brian and I for this very moment. Here are some of the ways He was getting us ready:
I have had miraculous healings from 2 different surgeries, a rotator cuff that had a traumatic tear from a fall in June of 2022, and in February of this year, major back surgery as a result of severe spinal impingement and severe degeneration of my lower spine. For my shoulder, I had an expedited recovery allowing me to do things within a few few months that they said would be at least a year. For my back, I was admitted to the hospital preoperatively, knowing I would be there for a few days, but thanks to the Great Physician, was doing so well that I walked out of that hospital a few hours after having surgery, feeling better than I had felt in months! God was reminding us both of the miraculous power of our Father, and that through Him all things are possible!
We participated in the "Isaiah 62 Fast" in support of Israel as a result of connections that Brian had because of attending Kansas City Fellowship over 40 years ago. We had no idea at that time that we would even be going on this trip to Israel. I believe that God began preparing Brian for this moment, 40 years ago, as a young man back in Kansas City, MO.
We met a Pastor from a Church in India yesterday that is also in Israel because he wants to bring awareness to India about Israel. As he and Brian spoke, he was actively involved in the "Isaiah 62 Fast" as well, and throughout the conversation it became crystal clear that it was a divine appointment, confirming the season of preparation that we went through, a lesson from the Lord, that even when we don't feel it or know it, He is always working on our behalf.
In March of this year, I had an overpowering desire to start writing a blog daily and as a result, OnwordandUpword.net was born. Heavily committed to writing a blog daily, I had not missed a day up until a few days ago, As I look back over my blogs, God was not only blessing others, but He was also preparing me for this moment, right now. I encourage you to go back and read over my previous blogs and see for yourself how God prepared me for this very moment by building my faith and imparting His word inside of me, to not only know but to apply to my life.
God has a plan for all of us, and He is always preparing us for whatever that plan might be. We can look to the story of Esther for an example of how God can use the preparation process to prepare us for future opportunities. Esther was called by God to go before the king and plead for the lives of her people, and before she could do that, she had to undergo a thorough preparation process.
During that time, Esther was taken into the king’s palace where she was given all the luxuries and amenities that a queen would receive. She was cared for and provided with the best of everything, so that when the time came for her to stand before the king, she would look and feel her best. This is a perfect example of how God can use the preparation process to prepare us for great things.
God knows that we need to be thoroughly prepared for the tasks He has in store for us. He knows that if we are unprepared, we will not be able to fulfill His will and will fail in our mission. That is why He uses the process of preparation to hone our skills and develop the character traits that we need to succeed.
The Bible tells us in Proverbs 21:31 that “the horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” This is an example of how God uses preparation to equip us for the battles and seasons that are yet to come. God knows what lies ahead and He knows what it will take to succeed in our mission, so He prepares us in advance.
God also uses the process of preparation to develop our faith. We can look to the story of Esther again for an example of this. As Esther underwent her preparation process, her faith in God grew and she was filled with a deep confidence that she was doing the right thing.
God wants us to have the same kind of faith and confidence in Him. That is why He calls us to spend time in His Word and in prayer, so that we can be filled with His Spirit and be equipped with the strength and courage to face whatever comes our way. We can also take comfort in the fact that He will be with us every step of the way. As it says in Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
No matter what kind of season or battle we may find ourselves in, God is always with us and He is always preparing us in advance. He knows exactly what it will take for us to be successful. All we have to do is be obedient, trust in Him, and follow His lead. Remember, like footprints in the sand, when there is only one set of footprints, it is because He is carrying us.
So, today, let us remember the example of Esther and trust in God as He prepares us for the battles and seasons to come. Let us take the time to spend in His Word and in prayer, so that we can be filled with His Spirit and equipped with the strength and courage to face whatever comes our way. Let us have faith and trust that God knows what He is doing and that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
©Rita Larson 10/12/2023
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