Preparation
Preparation is 99% of success.
Personal success is not measured in the public victories [but in the value of what an individual or team placed upon their readiness] in private and how they executed that readiness in public.
“The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works unto the Lord, and your thoughts shall be established. The Lord hath made all things for Himself: yea, even the wicked for the day of evil. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished. By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the Lord men depart from evil” (Proverbs 16:1-6).
Is God’s word beneficial to me and those that know me? Is His word profitable to me and those I serve?
The proper question is not, “Is the Lord good?” He cannot be anything but good. The best way to ask this question is this way. “Is the Lord good to me? Has God’s word been beneficial to me?” Why is this the better way to ask this?
I have found a couple places that help me answer these two questions.
Psalm 119:155 ; 119:74 ; Micah 2:7 ; Acts 20:32 ; 1 Thessalonians 2:13 (effectively in them who believe)
Diotrophes didn't teach them how to discern the word of the Lord because he restricted their access to it and God’s people.
Grace says test all things... not restrict all things, except your thing. Isolation is a sign of the lack of wisdom and discernment.
Knowledge and prudence and diligence equals readiness and readiness (wisdom) is strength (Isaiah 33:9)
Prepared people are usually the most peaceful and pleasant and personable people to be around.
BECAUSE he (Rehaboam) didn’t prepare his heart to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 12:14)
Prepare: to set up! To fix and establish a place, like a residence. To set up a place to live or be. We don’t set up to live in these places we travel to. We may lodge their for a couple nights but we have no intentions to set up a permanent residence there.
He had no intentions to permanently seek God and His ways. He’d visit it from time to time but he had no plans of sticking with the Lord on everything in life.
If I’m not intentionally and courageously and sacrificially and actively involved in this divine assignment it’s because I have not prepared my heart to seek and wait and work for the Lord.
He did evil: that which was good for nothing eternally, so, what he did accomplish was insignificant and useless as it applies to God and His kingdom, because he did not prioritize his life around seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
It’s not about what we’re not doing but what we are doing and who we’re doing this work and life for. When He redeems or delivers us from something or a way of thinking and living He delivers us to a new way of thinking and living.
Ezra... 7:10 “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach it...
1. He gave his heart to know the Lord and His was.
2. He gave his all to obey what he knew.
3. He gave his life to teach what he embraced, experienced and endured.
Revelation's focus is not primarily to prepare us for events... as much as it is preparing us for a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ. It's preparing us for Him and His presence, purpose, passion and the price of living for His name sake and His gospel.
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