Are You Ready?

By Chuck (Sharing Compassion)

Let me ask a question-Are you preparing for what God might want you to do? When the Spirit says, "Go" or "Do" will you be ready? I have found that life is a grand adventure. Doors may close but others always open. God is always working in our lives. He has a master plan and we won't know the final result until our time here on Earth is done. However that does not mean we should rest on our laurels and do nothing.

If you look at Acts 13:1-5 the church at Antioch was worshiping and fasting while waiting on word from the Spirit about which direction they go and who should be sent. They were eager and waiting. How different should that be for us? Do we listen for God's promptings. Are we tuned in to what He would have us do. Often the noise of everyday life crowds out what we should be hearing. Sometimes in our circumstances we think that he might be finished with us but really a finish is just a beginning.

Case in Point: For years, I worked in Children's Ministry-- that was my mission field. My final years there were spent giving my all to a Large Group Program. I mean, we put everything into it. Leadership changed and my role changed. It looked like a door had been shut and that was that. However looking back it was God who had changed my direction. With Children's Ministry He grew my love for kids and being a leader. I learned to be silly and to be an organizer. I learned to channel my type A personality into something special. I was never much for being "out front," yet He nurtured that in me so I became very comfortable doing drama or speaking to others. I took a mission trip to the Dominican Republic while trying to figure out my next role. In less than two years He gave me a new mission field. An advocate for "the least of these," the children who live in poverty. My heart broke on that trip BUT meeting my sponsored child opened the door for my new ministry. I am now very active in my new calling as an Area Coordinator for Compassion. I can look back now and see the pruning and work he was doing in my life to prepare me for the next chapter but if I had not listened to His prompting to go to the Dominican or to even go and visit my sponsored child I would have missed the call.

It is my prayer that you always be listening and be prepared. Remember that your home, your neighborhood, your school, your workplace... all of these are mission fields that He might be calling you to work in. Listen and be ready! He has work for you to do.