GET YOURSELF READY AND THE LORD WILL ACT
Preparation is always done prior to expectation of something(s). When we are expecting visitors, we make sure we are prepared for their comfort. In sports, participants commence their preparation some several years prior to the set period of competition. For one to write an exam and pass, preparation in the form of studying is very important. Sometimes, in spite of the time spent in our preparations, we may still record some lapses; however, the lapses may have been more if we had not prepared at all!
How do we prepare when we want to receive from God? In Christianity, a lot of Christians do not know the difference between ‘faith’ and ‘faithfulness’. More often than not, some Christians are faithful to God. They go to church regularly and participate in church activities-faithfulness. As long as they are active in church activities, they expect God to also play His part in honouring His promises. When these people do not experience the promises of God in their lives but others are enjoying the promises, bitterness sets in. It is important to participate in church activities but there is much more to do. The scripture below will help us to answer the question above.
Psalm 102: 16-17 states “When the Lord shall build up Zion, He shall appear in His glory. He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer”. To receive from God, we need to prepare our hearts! Faithfulness will help us to some extent to get blessed by God. However, to be blessed more by God beyond faithfulness, we need to add faith to our faithfulness. The amount of the word of God in us and its right application is directly proportional to His glory in our life-faith. As we meditate on His word, become doers of it and speak in concert, He shall appear in His glory. God always deals with us according to the level of knowledge we have of Him. If the Lord appears in a form that you are not familiar with in His word in you, you can’t recognise His presence and act accordingly. His word is always important in preparing us for His action.
Young Samuel enriched himself with the word of God before God appeared to him. Secondly, God appeared to young Samuel in a voice similar to that of Priest Eli because Samuel was familiar with the voice of God through Priest Eli. As an experienced Priest, Eli directed Samuel on what to do.
To get ourselves ready for His glory, we must build ourselves by enriching with the word of God to generate faith in us in addition to our faithfulness. God acts when we have a personal discovery of Him through His word. Secondly, the counsel of experienced priest(s) is necessary most of the time to give us direction on what to do by way of preparation for God to act. Thirdly, prayer must always be part of the process of preparation for God to act.
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