are you ready?

So I just recently read this story about a woman names Esther Ahn Kim. She is a Korean who was imprisoned for 6 years for not bowing down to the shrines that were everywhere. And before she went to prison – she knew there was a good chance that she would be going, so she prepared. She ate decaying food because she knew that’s what she would be served in prison. She memorized a ton of scripture because she knew she wouldn’t have her Bible once she was there. And eventually – she was taken to prison. And she was able to eat the food. She was able to survive on less food – and bless the other, actual criminals imprisoned with her by sharing food with them, loving them, sharing scripture with them.
Think about that for a second. she had the discipline to not only stand up for her morals – but to spend real time preparing for what was coming…because she knew it would be crucial.
Now the point of the story is not that you should all go out and eat decaying food for Jesus. Don’t do that. you’ll prb get sick. The point is that she was prepared for what God was calling her to when the time came.
So today I challenge you to think about 2 things. and really take some time to think about the answers….

1) what is God calling you to? If you don’t know…what is God calling you to do RIGHT NOW, however small is seems?

2) are you preparing for it? or, are you allowing yourelf to be prepared?

If God is calling you to do something (and He is) – it is for a purpose. Its not just because He’s bored and wants to see what you’ll do. So be READY – because when the time comes, and you have to step up and take a leap of faith, you will want to be as prepared as you possibly can be.
And the ONLY WAY you will know what to do or how to get there – is if you ASK GOD what it is. Ask Him and don’t stop asking until you hear an answer.
Right before Jesus went to the cross…He went off to pray. He asked His disciples to wait for Him. (Read Matthew 26: 36-46) And He comes back to them a couple times – and finds them sleeping. The question He asks as they wake up is “couldn’t you stay awake for even an hour?”
And obviously it’s a different situation today than it was then – but in all the discipline God has been teaching me, I feel like He’s asking me the same question. He sees where Hes trying to take me, where He wants me to get to – and as I struggle with doing what i know He is asking of me and I lose focus, He asks – “cant you stay with me, just stay awake for this time?"

He has promised those who follow Him that it will not be hard forever. But while we are here, we are to surrender all of us, be living sacrifices for Him. And when the time comes, no matter how hard the journey looks from here, are we going to be ready?

-ALIVE