Always Be Prepared

Growing up I hear this mantra all the time from my mom. I am glad that now that I am an adult that I paid heed to what it seems to be nagging when we were kids became a lifesaver for us. We became resourceful, developed common sense, and spiritually strong in our faith in Christ.

2020 came to everyone’s lives as either significant or devastating – depending on what and how you have experienced life.

As the New Year rolls in 2020 and as we were still winding down from the holiday festivities, just as we were still staging our resolutions for the year, we were struck with the most unprecedented news – Corona Virus (COVID-19).

No one exactly knows what it was. A lot of us thought this is just another type of flu that comes seasonally during the winter months. We were caught unaware of how desolating and overwhelming this would be for the entire world in the entire year.

No one was prepared for the devastating plague that was about to come. It wiped out millions of lives all over the world.  We were astounded by what we witnessed on television and social media.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus spoke about the destruction of the temple and the coming of the Son of Man. Matthew 24:1-31

It is amazing how Jesus, as a Good Shepherd has given us the opportunity to be prepared. He wants to make sure that those who are lost have the time to find their way back to Him to bring back to his Father. Matthew 24:36-50

He spoke about the Parables of the Ten Virgins. Matthew 25:1-11

He explained the Lesson of the Fig Tree to help us visualize the signs of what is to come. Matthew 24-32:35

If our habits are formed in the teaching of Jesus, our faith and character are molded in genuine Christian faith. We can start building our habits in 5 simple acts each day:

1. Spend a moment in prayer – before you start your day with the busyness of your chores at home or at our job in the office, thank God for another day of life. Ask Him for strength and wisdom to help you with your choices. Offer Him your sacrifices.
2. Give blessings to everyone and show act of kindness to – your family, your co-workers, the barista at your local coffee shop, the bus driver, and anyone you interact with throughout the day (especially with those you have disagreement with).
3. Talk to God throughout the day – you do not need to be in a special place to talk to Him. Let Him know how your day is going, check in with Him constantly. Praying need not to be lengthy. Praying is speaking to God from our heart.
4. Remain encouraged, patient, and humble in everything that you do – ask for the Holy Spirit to guide you to form these habits and build your character.
5. Forgiving – for most of us, this is the most difficult thing to do but it is the most rewarding, selfless act of love.

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”  ~ Ephesians 4:32

“Choosing to forgive someone who has hurt you, either emotionally or physically, doesn’t mean that you have to excuse the other person’s behavior, but letting go of your anger frees you to focus your energy on a more worthwhile cause.” ~ Amy Morin, Author

©fm1 8.27.21