Prepared  – to provide for or to make ready

2 Timothy 2: 21 – “If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.”

Jonah – God is a God of preparation – a great fish, a gourd, a worm, a vehement wind.

John 14:2 – “ I go to prepare a place for you…”

2 Chronicles 12:14 – “And he (Rehoboam) did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.”

1. Our degree of preparation often determines our degree of usefulness

Let God stretch you!

Daniel and the Hebrew Children – Daniel 1:4, 17, 20 – “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” “Ten times better”

2. God has been preparing us for this moment – consciously and unconsciously 

“God is using my life experience and those He puts in my path to prepare me for something yet!”

Psalm 16:5 – “The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.” God preserves for us what He has for us, and preserves and prepares us for what He has for us.  

Ezra 7:6, 10 – ready – quick, skillful, prepared -“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”  

A Balanced Life – “According to Ezra 7:10, Ezra studied God’s Word, obeyed God’s Word, and taught God’s Word. He was like the person Jesus spoke about in Matthew 13:52: a student (learning) who was a disciple (living) and a householder (sharing). Having a balanced life is most important.” – Wiersbe

3. We prepare and propose – God disposes 

“Man proposes – God disposes.” People can make plans; God determines how things will turn out.

Proverbs 16:9 – “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps and the outcome.

“Keep your life so constant in its contact with God that His surprising power may break out. Always be in a state of expectancy, and see that you leave room for God to come in as He wills.”

          – Oswald Chambers

“God Moves In A Mysterious Way”:

God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform

He plants His footsteps in the sea and rides upon the storm

Deep in unfathomable mines of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs and works His sovereign will

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take – the clouds you so much dread

Are big with mercy and shall break in blessings on your head

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense but trust Him for His grace

Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face

His purposes will ripen fast, unfolding every hour

The bud may have a bitter taste but sweet will be the flower

Blind unbelief is sure to err and scan His work in vain

God is His own interpreter and He will make it plain

          – William Cowper