Prepare in advance for the Trials to Come

Jeremiah 12:3-5
“But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?”

I pray that the Lord will lead me not into temptation but will deliver me from all evil, almost daily.

But if and when I must walk thru violent raging waters, I must be prepared for the test ahead.
James 1:12 Blessed is a man who endures trials, because when he passes the test he will receive the crown of life that He has promised to those who love Him.

I don’t normally do well with tests, but I know that Gods tests reveal the true state of my heart.
Jeremiah understood this, as is evident when he says, ”If thou hast ran with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, how canst thou contend with horses?” Jeremiah 12:5

One way of looking at that is if the people that we know and love are getting under our skin, how will we be able to handle the truly difficult tests, when they come?

If we are coasting comfortably during the smooth times of life, what will we do when the waters of life begin to swallow us?

The good news is, we can be prepared to face the days testing.

We can be prepared to compete.

Here is ample guidance,
Psalm 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping Your word.

How shall we compete?
By taking up the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God!

It is Gods Word that will keep us from sin, as we read: I have treasured Your word in my heart so that I may not sin against You. Psalm 119:11

During the days of Nehemiah, Gods people would read the Word of God for six hours, and then they would confess their sins for another six hours!

They were prepared to take the test; they were prepared to run the race; they were prepared to compete.

But in today’s fast paced culture, our lives are pulled in many directions that are contrary to a life that is steeped in the study and understanding of Gods Word.

We are continually digesting information, from newspapers, magazines, the TV the internet, a never ending stream of email, to fidgeting endlessly with electronic devices that lumped together so pre-occupy us to the point that we have failed to prepare for the test that is coming.

The accumulated distractions keep us from focusing on that which alone will make us ready for the overflowing of the Jordan----Gods Word.

Preparing to run with horses, to survive when the waters of life overflow, requires serious devotion to God and to His Word.

God will test us.

For whom He loves, He disciplines, David, who was prepared by God through the harshest of tests, says in Psalm 119:71 “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I could learn Your statutes.” He goes on in verse 91 to say “If Your instruction had not been my delight, I would have died in my affliction.”

When I consider that God has by interest in mind---that God really does forgive me when I repent of my all too frequent sins--that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I could ask or think--then these motivations renew my resolve to serve Christ and not myself.

Psalm 66:10-12 “For You, God, tested us; You refined us as silver is refined. You lured us into a trap; You placed burdens on our backs. You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us out to abundance.”

Be prepared, study the Word, spend time in His presence, embrace the King.

He will bring you to a place of abundance, and ultimately to the reward of the crown of life.