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Madge could not believe that it was already 7.00 pm? Where had the time gone? At first, the time had dragged. She had been frustrated with how slowly the time was passing as she waited until it was time to go to the airport to pick up her daughter. Now, she was rushing to get there and she had not even completed half the things she had planned to do in preparation. In focusing on how slowly the time was passing, she had stopped living in a state of readiness. Time had caught up with her.
Living in a state of readiness sounds simple but it is not easy. It is not easy because waiting is tiring and it is easy to get distracted and lose focus. We get careless. However, you don’t have to be Madge. Here is what living in a state of readiness looks like in 3 movements.
Do Business while You Are Living in a State of Readiness
He summoned ten of his slaves, and gave them ten pounds, and said to them, “Do business with these until I come back” (Luke 19:13 NRSV).
A strange thing happened as Jesus was going to Jerusalem. People were beginning to focus where Jesus wasn’t focused. They were also working on some expectations of the immediacy of God’s kingdom. These were out of alignment with Jesus’ and God’s timing.
So, in Luke 19:12–27, Jesus told them a story. It’s summed up in verse 13 above. Here is a another way of putting it: God has given you gifts and opportunities. Take them and use them. Don’t put them away because you think you know God’s future. Be diligent and productive.
Watch/ Be Alert while You Are Living in a State of Readiness
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (Luke 12:39–40).
Does this contradict what was said earlier? Not really. Think about it. Madge had completed some things. She had been doing some business. She had just focused too much on the time and allowed it to slip away from her.
Part of being alert is using God’s gifts and opportunities in ways that are pleasing to God. When our goal is doing what wants and God’s glory, we will be watchful and alert. We will be anticipating that wonderful time when we are before God and able to give an account of how we have used God’s gifts.
Pray while You Are Living in a State of Readiness
Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God (Luke 6:11).
It always comes back to prayer. You could also say you always begin with prayer. Jesus prayed, a lot. Do you?
Pray for forgiveness when you are wrong. Pray for others. Pray that more souls come to and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Pray for mercy in the midst of trials and judgment. Pray to know God more. Pray for healing. Pray to know God’s will and pray for the strength to do it. Don’t stop. Just pray. If it takes all night to get your breakthrough do it. When you are praying aright with surrender to God, you will be living in a state of readiness.
Did this sound familiar? I’ve written aspects of it in different places, for example, “3 Good Things to Do While You Wait. “ Today, God said remind them. And so I close out this phase of blog writing with the reminder and guidelines for living in a state of readiness.
Get Closer to God and Live with Greater Confidence and Peace
Photo credit: RyanMcGuire / of Pixabay.com
