Preparing

“But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you,” ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭3‬:‭15‬

As we shifted into December, all signs point to Christmas. The stores and ads are all focused on preparing the gifts, decor, and all of the holiday meals. Although it starts Halloween night, I’m never fully ready to accept it until after Thanksgiving. I love my friends, who jumped straight from Halloween to Christmas decor, but I love fall and all the colors so I hold on to it as long as I can.

I don’t really do much preparation for Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. I set my nativity scenes and put up an Evergreen tree, decorated with lights and simple decorations but that’s about it. I overheard a coworker yesterday, asking one of the other providers for the providers tips on outdoor Holliday lighting. Apparently he knew what not to do. It made everyone chuckle, but as I read my devotional this morning, the thought came back to me.

So often we spend a lot of time preparing for earthly events. When my friend and I travel, she starts packing a month in advance, at least. I’m good if I do it the night before. I’m not big on preparation I like to keep it simple, and can be just a last-minute gal. Except when it comes to eternity, things of God, and my testimony. For those I want to be prepared.

How many people spend just as much time preparing for eternity as they do for Christmas or any other earthly thing? Do we take the time to fine-tune our life to make sure that our light is shining properly as we check the bulbs before hanging them? Do we make sure that we are decorated with all the fruit of the Holy Spirit like we take the time to perfectly place the decorations on the tree? Do we search the Word for the specific truth that would minister to our need or the needs of others as we would for a gift? Do we make sure that we plug in daily to God just like we do our lights? Or do we treat Him like an artificial tree? We dust off our Bible or pray only when we need Him? Never giving Him a thought outside of special events or photo ops. Or we dress it up to look good for pictures or post and then we forget about it until it’s time to put it away again?

God‘s preparation time is never wasted time. I have read my Bible daily for over two decades. It is daily preparation, that sometimes I could skip but it has become a need for me, it is the Bread I need daily and the water that quinces my soul. God gives me the opportunity to share what He has deposited in me. Initially that preparation was changing me. And He is still working on me daily.

I love when I read something and have that thought “well, it doesn’t really apply to me right now.” A few hours later God puts someone in my path that needs that scripture that lesson. It is beautiful. So many of those times have been so special to me that Incan continue to carry on the lesson to help others.

What a better world we would live in if we all took time daily to prepare ourselves for eternity. If we were always ready to share the gospel with others, and our testimony. What hope we could plant if we are ready to give testimony to the hope we have in Christ and not a worm out testimony but a “Here is what God showed me today!”

Lord forgive me for the times I have given temporal things more preparation time than I do my soul. I pray that You would help me, and every other believer of God to give You first place this holiday season. Help us to prepare our hearts to receive from You and to give to others. I ask these things in Jesus name amen.