If
you know anything about the Boy Scouts of America you’re probably aware that their
club motto is: “Be prepared.” That’s a pretty good thing to live by in
theory, but not always so easy to follow.
Every
day we make preparations for something. We get up with preparations on our
mind. Whether it’s preparing meals, getting ready for work, planning activities
or retiring at bedtime, we’re always in a preparing mode.
With
all the preparing we do, you’d think we’d always be ready for anything
right? So then how can prepared people
get caught off guard in being unprepared so many times? It’s easier than you think. Take a look at these
three situations.
Welcome new friends this week from:
See if your city/state/country made the list.
New on DFB – Gaborone, South-East District & Francistown, North-East District,
Botswana; Winnipeg, MB, Canada; Congo, Democratic Republic; Ethiopia; Guatemala;
Conakry, Guinea; Ranchi, Jharkhand, India; Kazakhstan; Mombasa, Coast Province,
Kenya; Peru; Freetown, Western Area, Sierra Leone; Hemyock, Spalding &
Cheddington, England, United Kingdom; Apata Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria; Kikinda,
Serbia; Toledo, Castilla-La Mancha, Spain; Da Nang, Vietnam.
USA – Coal Hill, AR; Green Valley, AZ; Culver City & Fresno, CA; Magnolia, DE; Pearl City, HI; Bettendorf, IA; Roscoe,
IL; Hoisington, KS; Mandeville, LA; Middle Earth, MD; Mount
Pleasant & Watership
Downs, NC; Brotmanville & Verona, NJ; Buffalo, Celoron, Lakewood
& Rotterdam, NY; Rutherford, Jeannette, New Kingstown & Sugar Grove, PA;
Florence & Darlington,
SC; Mayfair Estates, Strasburg & Vansant, VA; Omak, WA.
I am so happy for your visit and hope that you come back
each week to participate in the weekly challenges. God has been faithful and we expect His favor
to abound in the lives of those who chose to Journey with Jesus on Daily Favor
Blog.
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the bottom of this week’s post.
Don't miss out on this week's challenge (below).
1
- Thinking you’re prepared but really aren’t …
It
was early in the morning when my husband was about to return some videos we
rented from the library. After we exchange “kisses and I love you’s”, I run
through a list of things that he needs to have in his possession everywhere he
goes, such as medications, etc. This way
he’s prepared in case he is longer than expected. With his hand on the knob closing the door he
nods, “got it” and left the house .
I
barely had time to sit down when the phone rang. My husband called from the car in the
driveway asking me to unlock the door, because he had forgotten his water
bottle. Venturing out for the second
time he was half way down the street when I heard the phone ring once more.
Making
the same request to unlock the door, I wondered what he had forgotten this time.
It was the videos that he was going to return … the sole reason for his trip.
This
is why I ask him before he leaves, “Are
you sure you have everything? Keys,
phone, wallet, pills, water?” Even
though he gave me an answer, he wasn’t really as prepared as expected. Although a little inconvenient and comical,
the situation didn’t have consequences that hurt anyone. What caused hubby to be unprepared? He was
distracted right before leaving the house.
2
– Good Intentions Cake
My
brother was a newlywed and wanted to bake a cake for his wife’s birthday. He
called and asked if I had any eggs. A
few minutes later he rang back and asked for several more ingredients, including
icing for the cake.
My
brother wasn’t trying to be funny in his actions, but was totally unprepared to
make what he had in mind. Chalking it up
to young love, we giggled and fulfilled his request.
What
was the cause of my brother’s being unprepared?
He simply didn’t think ahead to purchase the things he needed to make
the cake. In his defense, that was the
only time it happened. Being unprepared
only left egg on his face.
3
– Without Answers
Ellie
had finished her shift at the hospital and was waiting for her husband in the
parking lot. When Don arrived she asked
if he would go with her to visit a lady she met that day, who was extremely
upset by the doctor’s report.
Sharon
learned she had a brain tumor and was quite frightened by the procedures
planned for her, and understandably so. Don
and Ellie told the lady she needed to have faith. At that time Don stated it was
about all he could muster up in the moment, and they didn’t know if the woman
knew Christ as her Savior.
Not
knowing what else to do, they told Sharon that they would pray for her and knew
some people who would definitely pray as well (us). They exchanged phone numbers to keep in touch
and were about to leave the hospital when something happened that made Don
freeze in his tracks.
Leaning
forward Sharon stretched out her arm and slid her hand around Don’s squeezing
it as if clinging to hope.With a soft voice and tears filling her eyes she spoke, “It’s going to be alright, isn’t it?” Don didn’t know what to say, but looking into eyes full of fear he confirmed, “Yes, it will be alright.”
Later
that night Don spoke to my husband, and confessed that he really didn’t know
what to say to her. He merely repeated
everything was going to be alright because he couldn’t think of any scriptures
that applied off the top of his head. He
wasn’t ready to give an answer because he wasn’t prepared for this to happen.
When
Being Prepared Matters
Trying
to help Don feel better about the situation, hubby shared that God has given us
favor through our journey with Jesus to speak His Word over any situation; we do
that by being prepared with an answer in biblical form.
The
Word of God is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. (Hebrews
4:12) Jesus has given us permission to use this power by speaking,
praying and sharing His Word. In this
case, healing scriptures were needed to give hope in what seemed a hopeless
situation.
Reasons
to Keep Studying
Last week we learned that studying God’s Word has a purpose; gaining approval from
God. Christians are also supposed to study
the Bible to “be prepared” to use it as a defense weapon against satan at any
time for ourselves and others.
Studying
also shows us which verses are right for a given situation. Using the verse “Jesus wept” (John
11:35) is not applicable for Sharon’s situation, but it does show the Lord
had feelings. However, quoting “By His
stripes you are healed” is spot on and one of the many verses that could have
been shared at that time. (Isaiah
53:5; 1
Peter 2:24)
Ready with an Answer
In
the first story distractions led to unpreparedness, while the second story not
having what was needed was because the person didn’t think out his plan. Our third story is the one we need to
concentrate on, because it can happen to any of us at any time.
Don
knows the Bible, but he wasn’t used to encountering situations like this. As soon as he realized it, he wanted that to
change and did something to rectify the shortcoming and be ready with an answer.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your
hearts, and always be ready (prepared) to give a defense to everyone who asks
you a reason for the hope that is in you …” (1 Peter 3:15 NKJV)
This Week’s Challenge:
Be Scripturally Prepared
Being prepared with the correct answers in anything takes
time and we’re not always going to get it right. There are times when quoting the gospel works,
but others it’s not the best way to handle the situation.
No one wants scriptures blasted in their face when in the
midst of a crisis, but there’s a way of using verses to give someone hope
during that difficult time. Knowing the
correct timing of a situation takes walking in God’s favor for discernment, and
that comes with spending time with Jesus along your journey.
When Sharon reached out to Don, it was because he already
laid the groundwork in his own journey of faith. She realized there was something to what he
was saying and in desperation wanted him to ease her fear with words of hope,
not just agree with what she said.
Our challenge this week is a follow-up from last week in
studying the word for a specific topic.
Since health was the subject that God has put in my path this week, that’s
the one we’ll learn.
I could go into all sorts of ways to go about this, but
there really isn’t any point if we don’t know any scripture to back our words. To
put it bluntly, get scriptures in your head that apply to what you are doing or
your situation.
Take out some paper and put it in your printer, then
print out the verses from the link provided. Make multiple copies so that you always have
an answer of hope available in your hands. (Be sure to use the translator tab
before printing.)
Keep a copy in your purse, wallet, car or desk … any place
where you may need to grab it in an instant.
Memorize them so that they are the first things that come out of your
mouth in prayer or conversation when confronted with a situation like Don was.
There are many more promises of God concerning specific types of healing, but
these are basics that cover them all.
 |
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Having a folded paper is great, but if you want to go one
step further purchase the book of the week by Charles Capps. I have lost count of how many of these
little pocket sized books we’ve given out over the years. At any given time I
have a least 6-8 on hand with one by my night stand.
We’re not always going to be prepared for everything that
may pop up along our journey, even if we’re walking in faith.
This week I wasn’t prepared to receive a call
that my Dad was in the hospital for the second time in a month. I wasn’t prepared to care for a rescue cat
that had been shot and has a shattered leg, nor was I prepared to hear about
Sharon’s illness.
My husband and I learned to be prepared in speaking and
singing the promises of God laid out in His Word, and we did so over all three
of these situations. If you have
followed hubby’s heart, you know he has experienced favor in healing the past 18
months.
Healing is a gift from God and part of His favor on His children.
Learn to pray for others so you will be healed.
- Favored1
Start now by singing this scripture song: “I Am the God that Healeth Thee” by Don
Moen. Claim healing over your own life
and sing God’s Word’s back to Him, so that next time someone asks what is your hope
based on you will be prepared with an answer.
If this article has encouraged or helped you please
consider sharing it by using the social media icons provided at the end of this
post.
Until
next time, may God favor you with healing!
“My favor is seen in healing.”
Jesus Christ
*Unless
noted, the names in articles are changed to protect the individual(s) privacy.
Note: The
words satan or devil are not capitalized deliberately, because we give him no
place in our lives.
Disclaimer:
Article information is not meant to be used as treatment for mental or physical
issues, but geared toward spiritual awareness.
What’s New This Week: Click
on book or link.
Pocket size
book 46 pages (10 copies)
Maybe you don’t know the Living God that I
know, but would like to have this kind of favor in your life also. Click on the above tab “Tell Me” for more
information on becoming a child of the Savior.
Content and Image Copyright from Favored1. Do not copy.
Scripture reference was taken from the New King James Bible Version provided by Gateway Bible.
Image credit: Google Images or Dreamstime Creative Common License if not specified.
Image: Boy Scouts Be Prepared Cake Ingredients 1 Peter 2:24
Disclaimer Notes: Results may vary due to lack of belief.
Boy Scouts Motto Be Prepared Vanilla Cake 1 Peter 2:24 By His Stripes Healing Charles Capps Favored1 Daily Favored Blog
