Are We Ready?

Verse of the day: Genesis 15:10-11 Then he brought all these to Him and cut them in two, down the middle, and placed each piece opposite the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

As born again believers, we need to strive each day to live in such a way that we hear from God continually. Sadly, we spend way too much time “doing our own thing”, then wonder why we cannot figure out God’s will and plan for our lives. Hearing from God is not some magical or mystical process we go through. Hearing from God takes preparation on our part, and it is a process that will be challenged by our enemies (Satan and his demons), because the last place the devils want to see us in is living a life that is obedient, and dedicated, to serving our Lord. Therefore, they will do anything within their power to distract us and spoil that which we desire to offer to God as a sacrifice. In these verses, Abraham is getting himself ready to hear from God, who has instructed him to set up the carcasses of these animals in preparation for God to express to Abraham His promise to him, and reveal to him what God’s people will suffer, and be delivered from, in the future. How amazing would it be if God would reveal to us His plan for us as plainly as He did with Abraham! Well, in actuality, He did. What do you mean, you ask? Well, we do have God’s Word, and He does spell out for us what is coming in the future of the church, this world, and the world to come. Intertwined in that is His individual plan for each of us, as we play our part in the grand scheme of things. However, God has chosen to reveal His plan for each of us, one step at a time; and for this reason it is so important that we too prepare ourselves to hear from God. So, my question to us today is, “Are we ready?” Are we ready to hear from God? What have we done to prepare ourselves to hear from Him? Have we spent time reading, and studying His Word, that contains God’s will for each born again Christian? Are we striving each day to make that a priority? 2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Not only are we to diligently study God’s Word, but we are also to be in continual prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to, “pray without ceasing”. Although these commands are simple, the process is challenging. With Abraham we see that as he prepared to hear from God, he had to remain vigilant so that the birds of the air, the birds of prey, would not spoil the sacrifices that God instructed him to prepare. He had to remain watchful and actively do that which would preserve what he was offering the Lord. This is a picture of what happens when we are trying to study God’s Word, and praying, and all kinds of distractions come to interfere with our time. Those ungodly thoughts that interrupt our most intimate times of prayer. The desires that well up inside of us to go do something that will cause us to waste the time we want to dedicate to study, prayer, and service to God. Just like Abraham had to drive away those birds, we must drive away the thoughts and interruptions that want to disrupt our time of preparation. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, in respect to spiritual war, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” We must take great measure, and be steadfast, in making sure that we take time each day to prepare our hearts and minds to hear from God. He will lead us one step at a time, one day at a time, on the path to fulfilling His plan for our lives. How will that happen if we are not careful to protect our time in study and prayer with Him? Psalm 119:105 reminds us that His Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. God wants to speak to us, and hear from us, but how will we share that kind of intimacy with Him if the world, and the thing we want to do, take priority over our time with Him? How will we hear from Him if we allow the enemy to distract us from doing that which will allow us to recognize God’s voice each and every day?

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).