Go through Life like your Father PREPARED YOU & then SENT YOU!
Growth is a sobering journey of ebbs and flows. It tests our ability to be stretched into the desired shape of Spiritual Fitness. The outcome gets the people in the stands cheering, but let’s look at the most underrated part of growth- the process of being prepared to attain it. Before doing so, we’ll review this historical event of what people came to see. Was it really the victory or the preparation that led to this record-breaking gathering?
We recently joined in with over 123 million viewers of Super Bowl LVIII, as reported by NPR and other media sources; the most watched NFL Championship in history! Most would say that it is all about the Win and what happens at the end. However, it is really about what each player did when no one was watching. It was about their level of preparation before being placed on the big stage !
So, let’s take this to Heaven. The focus point as a Believer is not the Destination being the only emphasis point. The Journey should be embraced and appreciated. It is the Grace of God to give us the time to mature in what He prepares us for. As much as a child may excel in Pop Warner Sports, no good father would allow their 7 year old son to play in the Super Bowl we just watched! A good father knows the dangers related to sending his son into an atmosphere he is not physically, mentally, or spiritually mature to walk into! As much of an historical moment that would be- a good father would not do it! So, how much more for God, the Ultimate Good Father?
The Word of God in Philippians 4:6-7 tells us, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God; and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Praise break, that blessed me just writing that out! God wants us to move in thanksgiving during the process of preparation. As we wait and prepare in the most fruitful way, it produces peace that allows our hearts and minds to be protected.
Is it not interesting that the world’s preparation is intense, but it cannot produce true peace no matter how much they try to manifest it? There is a plethora of steps that they take to perform mind over matter, but the peace that allows one to be abased or abound, the world does not possess. There are so many victories to the life of a Follower of Christ! We are looking at the wrong place in the newspaper. The Preparation of God is not on the front page headline, it is buried deep within for a reason. It is not found on the tail page either because, that is where we get a chance to see how much honor and attainment was captured through the process.
The middle section allows us to be tested and matured before the limelight. Our Good Father is in no haste to put us in situations whereby He will not get glory. As we learn to navigate through life and we mature in Him, we begin to realize how much we really need the time lay overs to arrive at the destination with the Glory of God packed, as we disembark.
The Art of Divine Living is a cumulative experience that allows us to build on every journey moment; every Yes to God; and every postponed trip that gives us more time to prepare.
I take you back to the historical event of the Super Bowl. In actuality, what they really witnessed was the preparation of men who saw themselves being victorious long before the game began. The work was put in to stand on the podium. The work that came with blood, sweat, and tears. How much more should a Believer show up for life to be triumphant in God because we took the time to prepare before being sent? We have two celebrations in God- loving and maturing in the preparation, as well as being able to see the fruit from being made! Here’s to the Blessed Life, as exciting as it is to go to Disneyland for the winning team, we have Eternity to prepare for!
Divine Work & Pray:
Work: Jot down your thoughts concerning how you feel about the Process of God. Do you have an appreciation for the journey? Do you find joy in being made? Have you thought about what it takes for God to send you? Do we think about how much of our Will is placed in a sacrificial state to accept God’s Will?
Pray: Father God, the Triumphant One. The One who takes our ineptness and processes us to be presented for Your Glory. For the places in our hearts that have learned to desire the destination over the journey. Create our hearts to love what You are producing in us through the journey. You allow us two wins- growing to love the preparation and what is produced. Thank You for your completeness! In your Matchless Name, we pray. Amen.
