Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. – 2 Timothy 4:2

Ever been in one of those situations where you were wishing you had been a little more prepared in something that you know should have been prepared in, but at the moment you were needed you weren’t prepared at all? If so, you know the feeling— The disappointment in yourself that you didn’t even spend at least five minutes a day being prepared or practiced. It’s not a good feeling, and it’s not something I would wish anyone to have to go through in order to learn from it. However, it has taught me a very valuable lesson.

For about 9 years, God has entrusted me to led groups of His Children to Worship with music. It wasn’t anything I had ever planned on doing, but I would practice my guitar and sing worship songs day in and out, putting songs to memory in my heart so I could play just for Him. No intentions of playing for anyone else, but in that, I was prepared when my old youth pastor asked me if I would start leading the youth into songs for the beginning of the youth service. Before I knew what the calling of my life was, God had already been equipping me. After a couple years of leading in Churches and other groups of people, I realized He wanted to use me more to lead others in worship, so I began to prepare myself more as I trusted God to lead me where He would have me.

One time I was at my uncle’s ministry in North Carolina (Meet Me At The Bridge Ministries) where he put his guitar around my neck and said, go on and play. Without having anytime to think about what songs I was going to do, I went out on the stage and played about 7 worships songs for the crowd of homeless people. That feeling of knowing I was prepared to do something when I least expected it, was a feeling I don’t think I would trade.

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. – Proverbs 6:6-8

Now  fast forward to a couple years later. I decided to take a break, not a planned break, from playing guitar and leading worship. Within a few months, I got a little, I guess stale– knowing many songs in my heart but sometimes forgetting a verse here and there, and not remembering the many sets I had accumulated over the years. This didn’t really seem to bother me until I was somewhere with a group of people when they needed someone to fill in with music, and they looked at me and said, “Josh! You know many songs, why don’t you lead the people with worship songs. You do this all the time.”

At that moment, my heart sank. I had to confess I was not prepared. I had not been practicing, had not been working on the calling God had called me. I had not been focusing on what I was supposed to be doing. It was not a feeling I would want for anyone! I was however able to do a few songs, but know that if I was needed to keep on going, I would not have been able to.

It was then and there, that I learned something very valuable about being prepared, and that is this: when you have the opportunity to be prepared, why put it off? If you know what God has called you to, why put off the preparation for it? Can you track where I am going? Are you going to wait for the opportunity to come before you start preparing for it? No way, because you might blow it! Are you going to wait for someone to ask You about Who God is, before you start to learn how to give an answer? No way, because then you might ruin your chances of having an impact on that person! Are you going to wait till you meet the godly guy/girl of your dreams before you start preparing yourself to be the godly spouse that God has called you to be? No way, because preparation takes TIME! Lets not wait until the moment where its too late to be prepared. Prepare NOW! God’s Word says this when it comes to preparation: Preach the word; BE PREPARED IN season and OUT OF season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2

So my encouragement is this: Make time to be prepared! Work on the character qualities God calls us to do, and pray for the self-discipline that God desires for us to have!

“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.” – 1 Peter 3:15

PRAYER: God, give me a LOVE for You and for Your Word! Please give me self-discipline to study Your Word and to be prepared in and out of season. Lead me all the days of my life and fill my heart with Praise for You!