I’m sure of it. You’re getting ready for something. It might be a family reunion. Maybe it’s vacation Bible school. Perhaps it’s a new job or a much-needed vacation. Maybe you’re even getting ready to serve as a delegate at the upcoming 8th Triennial Convention … or getting ready to travel to the Triennial Gathering. Whatever it is, you’re engaged in some preparations: packing, losing weight, creating sample crafts, whatever. While you’re doing all those things, are you also preparing spiritually for the event or activity?
You want to prepare yourself so that you are able to be most open and accepting to God. So our preparations aren’t just “spiritual.” We need to get enough sleep in the days leading up to an event. The more rested we are, the more receptive we can be. We eat well, avoiding junk food, and drink enough water every day. We exercise daily. When our physical self is operating at its best, we can more easily focus on spiritual matters, and we’re ready to respond to the nudging of the Holy Spirit, wherever that nudging may be taking us.
We continue our preparations in prayer, asking for God’s guidance and presence. We pray that we might be open to new experiences and opportunities, open to where the Spirit might be leading us. We pray, too, for those who walk with us, those who support us, those whose lives we will touch.
There’s nothing novel here. Your parents, a close friend or even a Sunday school teacher prospbably taught you these things. At least for me, I realize I need to be reminded of them all the time. Spiritual preparation isn’t a once and done thing. Some days we’re pretty lousy at it. Thank God we get to start all over again each morning! How great is that?
Do you have a particular spiritual preparation that helps you prepare for a situation or event? Please share it here in the comments.