Being Prepared
Scripture
The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine. (1 Samuel 17:37)
Observation
The whole Bible and all past history unite to teach that battles are always won before the armies take the field. The critical moment for any army is not the day it engages the foe in actual combat but the day or month or even the year before. Therefore, preparation is vital. Recognising that, it did not take Moses long to lead the children of Israel out through the Red Sea to deliverance and freedom, but his fitness to do so was the result of years of hard discipline. It took David only a few minutes to dispose of Goliath, but God had prepared him long before that with his run-ins with the lions and the bears, and gaining faith through them. Preparation can be in the form of our own discipline or coming from God Himself. Regardless, preparation by prayer and seeking God is vital to be used by Him in future days.
Application
Recognising that preparation is vital, we can seek God today and get prepared to meet temptation tomorrow. But if we meet the enemy without first having met God, we may face a losing battle. Be prepared to meet God to allow Him to sharpen or mould us with time.
Prayer
Lord, feed me from Your Word each day. I can't enter the battle of today without this vital preparation. Help me even in the busiest of days to maintain this discipline of preparation by encountering You. Amen.