Daily Devotional – 3/20/12 “He’s preparing you!”

God has placed you into whatever situation that you’re in, not be torn down, abused, cast out or accused but to overcome it with strength and dignity because he’s already prepared you for it and he knows you can handle it. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future,” Jeremiah 29:11. See, God knows what you can handle before he even sends it your way because he made you who you are and because he knows you belong to him! He prepared you for the surgery and the chemo that came along with the breast cancer, why do you think you started working out again and eating healthier? He prepared you for the downsizing at your job, why do you think you updated your resume and started checking out the career sites and job fairs? God prepared you for momma/daddy leaving, why do you think you started spending more time at their house talking about all the things they wanted you to know? God was even preparing you for that car that ran the red light and almost took you out, why do you think you had your brakes changed earlier when you normally ride them until they squeal? Yes, God knows the trouble that will present itself in your life because he promised it in the Garden of Eden for Genesis 3:17 says, “To Adam he said, “Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, ‘You must not eat of it,’ “Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life.”

See, just because you’re a child of God, it doesn’t mean all you’ll face will be trouble but it means that trouble will come and you have to work harder to overcome it. Stop thinking that trouble started when he made you because we’ve all been bound to it for Job 14:1 says, “ Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” Stop acting like you’re the only one going through a situation because we all have to face them for Job 5:7 say, “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.” So, why do you think you’re the only one facing a storm or have a dark cloud over your head? Baby, I’m here to tell you that we all have a storm to face because either we’re going through one, coming out of one or getting ready to go through one! The only difference between you and I is how we choose to handle it and when it comes. God has already prepared us for the storms and trouble but sometimes we forgot all the things we’ve been taught. We don’t read our bible like we should, we don’t pray when we know we could and we don’t treat folks the way God would, so when trouble comes it catches us off guard and now we act like we can’t make it through. But God gives us everything we need, daily; to overcome whatever obstacle we have in our way. He gives us the necessary weapons to fight against the stress, temptations, turmoil, strife, dead end streets and closed doors that we will have to face. If you don’t believe me, then follow this checklist to see if you have what you need to overcome trouble.

1.    If you’re living and breathing, check it off!
2.    If you’re able to hear, see, smell, taste and touch, check it off!
3.    If you can move your arms, legs, head, hands, feet, mouth and eyes, check it off!
4.    If you can feed and clothe yourself, comb your own hair, wash your own body and brush your own teeth, check it off!
5.    If you can remember what you did yesterday, what you have to do today and make plans for tomorrow, then you’re in your right mind so check it off!
6.    If you can bend your knees, then you can pray so check it off!
7.    If you have God on the inside of you, then you have the strength you need, so check it off!
8.    If you believe and take God at his word that says “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8), check it off!
9.    If you believe that God never fails, check it off!
10.    And if you believe that God hears and answer prayers, then check it off!

If you have more than one checked, then you have what you need to win against trouble. 2 Chronicles 20:17 says, “You won’t fight this battle. [Instead,] take your position, stand still, and see the victory of the LORD for you. Don’t be frightened or terrified. Tomorrow go out to face them. The LORD is with you.” Even though this scripture was talking to Judah and Jerusalem, then, it’s speaking to you now. When trouble comes, God has already prepared you so take your position, stand firm on God word, stand still in your faith and see the victory that God is about to give you. Don’t waver in the battle when it seems like the enemy is winning because it isn’t over until God says it’s over. Just hold on because he’s simply preparing you for something and although you may not be able to see it yet, just hold on and stay the course because you’re strong, capable and tough enough to get through it!