Be Prepared

Based on Deuteronomy 28-29, Proverbs 4

We should always be concerned with planning ahead-but by this, I DON'T mean panic! Instead, we have to be prepared...especially at a time like this! Also, being prepared is not only a physical, tangible thing, but a spiritual thing! God's Word will prepare us for times like these more than the grocery stores. Yes, we should stock up & prepare to a degree, but if we overload ourselves, it inconveniences others. Thankfully, God never runs out of ways to help us!

"Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life." Proverbs 4:13.

More than food is nutritious to us, God's Word is nutritious to us & gives us LIFE! We would do well not to let go of the treasure of God's wisdom. Physical sustenance does not give us hope, but God's Word does! Let's cling to it without hesitation in this day & hour! It's the only way to be prepared for an uncertain future. But is it really uncertain with God? Has He also prepared us for the future as well as the present?

Yes!

What's the reason we study history? Mostly to not repeat the same mistakes twice. God is the Author & Finisher of our faith! He is still writing our story! It would be wise of us to reference the greatest history book of all-the one which we are all written into-the Bible!

"And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." Deuteronomy 28:1‭-‬2.

Wow! In obedience to God's Word, we will be overtaken by blessings! We will not be overtaken & overwhelmed by the fears and cares of this life! Just as Pastor preached yesterday, people will recognize who God's children are today because they are the ones being blessed in this time of emptiness. We must prepare through the application of the Word of God!

"Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store."
Deuteronomy 28:5.

Once we have some Word preparation goin', the blessings will start flowin'! We can gather & gather all we want without God, but it will not compare to God's provision! The work & effort we put into panic is so much more stressful than God intended us to be! Through diligent spiritual preparation, we can experience true blessing through God's provision! And, we can be at ease!

"Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out." Deuteronomy 28:6.

We are all quite terrified nowadays of going into a public place, especially with no mask or protection...but again, that all can be solved through godly preparation! While health caution & responsibility are necessary, it's also necessary to de-stress and know that when we are armed with the Word of God, we can go forward in victory!

"Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them, that ye may prosper in all that ye do." Deuteronomy 29:9.

In a time where it seems so many systems are failing us, God's system never fails! The words of His covenant always hold true.

"Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." Proverbs 4:26.

Yes, we should ponder the path of our feet. We should be careful of where we go and what we do. We should abide by the stay-at-home guidelines in place. But, in that obedience and in aligning ourselves with God's Word, all our ways will be established. We will be prepared. There is no need to panic!