I Prayed have prayed
Father, do not let us live in fear. Help us to make no provision for the enemy to attack and give our nation wisdom and discernment.
Reading Time: 5 minutes

Fourteen years ago, I drove my daughter to the hospital to deliver my first grandchild.  What should have been a joyous time – wasn’t. It was a battle, one that took me months to recover from spiritually and emotionally.

With her suitcase in hand, I hastily walked down the hospital corridor when the Holy Spirit spoke sternly to me. He said, “You are going into this on borrowed faith.”  At that moment I knew I was about to walk into a place for which I was not prepared.  Life had become so busy I had not taken the time in prayer or in the Word that I needed to glide through this day.

That day taught me many valuable lessons. None more so than the importance of being ready in every season. God never intends for us to go into a battle unprepared. Quite the opposite. It is His plan that we are always ready for any battle that may come our way. He sees what is ahead and does everything in His power to make sure we are prepared – the rest is up to us.

We see this truth in 1 Kings 19:6-8. Concerning Elijah, the Word of God says, “He looked around and saw some bread baking on hot stones and a jar of water! So he ate and drank and lay down again. Then the Angel of the Lord came again and touched him and said, “Get up and eat some more, for there is a long journey ahead of you.” So, he got up and ate and drank, and the food gave him enough strength to travel forty days and forty nights to Mount Horeb, the mountain of God” (NLT).

God knew what Elijah was about to walk through, He was encouraging Elijah to prepare before the journey ahead began.

Encouraging Elijah to eat bread (Jesus is our bread) and drink water (the water of the Word) was needed to prepare him for the long journey ahead.  As we see from this story, that nourishment equipped Elijah for the next forty days!

We see this instruction again in Matthew 25: 1-12:

Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. “Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ (Mt 25: 1-12)

As prepared people, we must be like the five wise virgins. We must make sure we have enough oil (anointing) to keep our lamps burning until Jesus arrives, or until we are on the other side of the battle.

Daniel 7:25 tells us the enemy (satan) will attempt to weary the saints. He is hoping we will run out of oil, thus dimming our light. But that is not God’s plan. God’s plan is that we stay ready in season and out of season. We do that by staying in the Word of God and in the presence of God.

I have felt for some time that there is a “journey” ahead of us. One that in the natural won’t be fun.  However, as children of God, it doesn’t have to destroy or diminish us. We know this from the life of Noah and Joseph. God always has a plan for His people.

In Joseph’s day there was a time of famine coming upon the land. The Lord had spoken it and there was no stopping what was coming. Yet, God gave Joseph divine insight on how to prepare. God gave the strategy needed to get through the coming season, or one might say the long journey ahead.

The famine did come, but there were no effects of the famine for Joseph or his family. Why? He listened to God and prepared for the bad days coming and the bad days didn’t affect him.  That is God’s plan for us.

Yes, I believe God is shaking our nation. However, if we are IN CHRIST, filled with His Word and spending time with Him, that shaking does not have to rattle us. God gave Noah time to prepare. He gave Joseph time to prepare. I believe He has done the same thing for us.

One good thing that has come out of this time of quarantine or pandemic, is time. We have had more time to spend with God. More time to spend with family. Essentially, we have had time to prepare for the journey ahead. I believe we still have time to prepare.

Things have slowed down. Events are at a minimum. Why not take that time and get into the Word of God, making sure we have ample oil for the journey? Spend time in His presence, filling ourselves up with His peace and His anointing. Remember, our part is to shine in the midst of darkness.

I love a Scripture I came across while studying.  It is found in Mark 15:42 and it says, “Now when evening had come, because it was the Preparation Day, that is, the day before the Sabbath.”

Sabbath speaks of the rest of God. This tells us there is a preparation day before we enter into the rest of God. I believe we are in that time of preparation. I also believe the end result will be that when the challenging times arise, we are able to enter into the rest of God. The key is in the preparation. God has given us time to prepare. Are we using that time wisely?

That day when my daughter gave birth, I learned a vital lesson. I learned we must keep our faith built up continually. We must keep the Word of God in our heart and in our mouth. If we wait for the battle to hit, we are too late. Now is the time for us to prepare for the journey ahead. No trained military person would ever walk into a battle unprepared. Neither should we.

Kim Potter is a writer and the founder of A New Thing Ministries, which sends a daily teaching to thousands of people all around the world. Her articles have appeared on The Elijah List, Charisma, Spirit Fuel and iBelieve.com. Kim’s message is one of hope. She speaks to the heart of those who have grown discouraged or disappointed by the circumstances of life, imparting hope. For additional information, or to receive her daily writings, go to www.anewthingministries.com. (Photo Credit: Getty Images.)

How do you feel impressed upon to prepare for battle? Share in the comments. . .

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Alicia
September 26, 2020

Help us be prepared, Lord! Equip our hearts and mouths with your words! Help us believe your word and the power of it! Help us to apply it daily!

Florence
September 25, 2020

Be stocked up on “oil”! Be on point in God’s Word!
Paying attention and alert, for our enemy goes about, “as” and that with time honed skill
All the more, we!!!!

Donna Nelson
September 23, 2020

Donna from (Canada)
Hello Kim,
A timely word indeed! This I feel is an exhortation. We will keep encouraging one another and keep on keeping on. It is so important to stay very close to the Lord and to be led by the Holy Spirit. There is so much in the Word of God. May we all keep growing closer & closer as we see the day dawning!
Blessing,

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Sasa
September 22, 2020

I believe we need to be ready as she said, to be ready in season and out of season. We need to be in the Word for He is the Word. His name is , The Word Of God.
When we are in His presence there is fullness of joy and the joy of the Lord is our strength. We need all the strength we can have for these times and the times ahead. He is our life source the very breath we breathe.
The Word says the end times would be like as it was in Noah’s time and so it is. Noah and his family stayed in His presence and obeyed the commands of the Lord and they entered into the ark and were safe from the calamity that came upon the whole earth.
So we must be focused solely on Him and obey so we too may be protected and safe from the calamity which is happening all around us.
Joseph obeyed As well and was able to hear from God and was in a position to take care of himself and his family.
We never know exactly what we may face from day to day but God always knows what is ahead and if we remain in His word and His presence and obey He is faithful and just to see us through it all. For the afflictions of the righteous are many , but He delivers us out of them all.
Father thank You for ordering our steps and being that Light in the darkness and giving us Boldness and courage and compassion and love to be a light in darkness to others.
Help us to love others unconditionally even our enemies. Help us to do good to those who despise us. Let not our hearts become hard and revengeful as times grown darker but let us count it all joy and allow your love in us to rise up and conquer the evil in Jesus name. The revenge is of the Lord. Help us to spread the gospel wherever we go. Help us to be prepared for the times ahead in Jesus name. Amen and amen

9
Velva Oliver
September 22, 2020

Amen! Very timely word.How did it all turn out with your daughter and grand baby?

4
Lois P Willis
September 22, 2020

Thank you for this most timely and excellent exhortation!!

And yes Covid has allowed all to have more time to get prepared for what is surely coming.
In this respect, it has been a gift to us- the time to be separated unto Him.

So scriptural that what was meant for evil, God turns to good. O that we may have star to see and ears to hear!!

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Steve Brown
September 22, 2020

Great reminder.

7
Joan Bartruff
September 22, 2020

Father, Grant all Your people wisdom to prepare themselves through spending time in Your Word and prayer to be prepared for the daily battle(s) we face in a fallen world. Help us to remember we are, “to pray without ceasing”, and “we have not because we ask not”. Yes, Lord, we need to have oil in our lamps so our “light” shines brightly in the dark places of this world. Thank You, Lord for Your love, mercy, and grace. You are so patient with us. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

23
Leslie Eddleman
September 22, 2020

Great message on staying in the word and in His presence on ALL occasions. With the intro about the daughter and grandbaby, I would have liked to know how the situation turned out and what specific lessons/strengths came as a result.

8
elaine
September 22, 2020

So glad you sent this, sure need to be reminded. Love, Mom

4
Mary Stutzman
September 22, 2020

Excellent exhortation re spiritual warfare. I felt left hanging though, wondering if the daughter and grandbaby were ok.

7
Elizabeth Bowers
September 22, 2020

So what happened to your daughter and her baby?

5
Vina M Elias
September 22, 2020

God has been dealing with my heart about getting in the word and praying more,I know if we aren’t prayed up and in the word we don’t stand a chance against what coming upon us in the days to come we as intercessors are to intercede as never before

11
Nan Nicoll
September 22, 2020

Ephesians 6:10-20 I go to this whenever I feel the need to prepare.

The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

15
Diann
September 22, 2020

God gave me the Word ‘Prepare’, Some weeks ago. I have been asking Him for specific guidance and strategies. I am alert and attentive; But not afraid.

14
Lorraine Quintal
September 22, 2020

It is important to know God is their for us, to be prepared for battle to trust iHim changes will be a blessing for me thanking the Lord Jesus Christ for being their when we need Him the most.

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Maynard Beck Sr.
September 22, 2020

Excellent word Kim. Part of the preparation is daily putting on the Armor of God. This essential has been overlooked by many preachers/teachers and given a secondary relevance ie: “if we abide in Christ we already have the armor on so don’t bother going through the motions”

The Apostle Paul was not bashful, so I take putting on the armor not to be taken as a suggestion.
The Holy Spirit gave me a prayer/poem 25 years ago that helps to prepare for the daily battle:

Putting on the Armor
First the helmet of Salvation purchased with Christ’s precious blood
Then the breastplate of Righteous woven with His love
Next the belt of Truth to keep me safe from satan’s vicious lies
And the shield of Faith for from the tomb my Savior did arise
Then the shoes of piece so I may run where the faint have never trod
To carry forth my two-edged Sword the awesome Word of God

Have a blessed

35
    Diana
    September 22, 2020

    Thank you for sharing your poem/prayer. What an excellent way to arm ourselves each and every day! Blessings

    6
Sue M.
September 22, 2020

Great article! Ever since I accepted Christ ( forty years ago) I have been in a battle either personally , corporately , nationally. We get thru one battle then prepare for the next always READY ! Yes always thru prayer and the Word. Different seasons and different generations have their own battles. Through all I am constantly praying for the next generation of Gods people to fulfill the call in their generation. So great to be in agreement with you !

27
    Bonnie Cantrell
    September 22, 2020

    I have been lead to pray the Lord’s Prayer daily and plead the Blood over my family daily as we walk through this dark time. I pray for wisdom to be able to navigate my daily walk and be ready at all times for the battle ahead. God gives me peace and assured me that I must pray, but the battle and victory belong to the Lord!

    13
Nancy
September 22, 2020

Thank You Father for Your servant Kim and the reminder that we must always be prepared to face the battle You call us to.. Thank You for Your Word that nourishes us and prepares us and strengthens us for the battle . In Jesus name . Amen

23
    Maritza Heg
    September 22, 2020

    A profound word, Kim !! THANKS !
    WHAT AN EYE OPENER FOR US ALL : “You’re going into this with borrowed faith ”
    I receive this word !!
    Be mightily blessed,sister !
    AS ONE .
    Maritza

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