Prepare for the Mission

Preparation. This is often the small step that makes a huge difference in the outcome of a game, season or tournament. Those who have prepared with diligence are best ready to face the challenge of competition.

As God entrusts us with our mission, He equips us with what we need. But we need to be alert and allow God to form us for His work. We get back to the basics and ace the fundamental training until God says, “Go.”

For fundamental training, there are three aspects of focus that will keep us grounded in God. Let’s look at what they mean for our lives.

Communion: Prayer

Nothing is more important than our personal relationship with God. When we spend time with Him in prayer, we strengthen our relationship with Him, find rest in His presence and learn to listen for His voice. God longs for intimacy with us and having an ongoing conversation is a natural way to know His heart and for Him to speak into ours. When we know God’s voice, we lean in close and hear what He wants to tell us about His love for us, His care for others and His plan for the world. Time with God in prayer strengthens our spirit and gives us the sustenance we need go to through the day.

Comprehension: Bible Reading

God’s Word is our anchor point as we hold to His character and promises throughout Scripture. Before we can minister to others, we first must be able to minister to ourselves. This means carving time out of our day to meet with the Lord, dig into His Word and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what He wants us to know about God and how we can live like His Son. The more we take God’s Word into our own lives, the more we trust God’s presence in our lives and exhibit God’s image to those around us.

Connection: Fellowship

It takes a community of people to live out the love of God. He desires us in fellowship with one another, giving our time, resources and care in regular community living. Community is where we encourage each other, point each other to what God says in His Word and provide hard truths when we need correction. We build one another up and point out spiritual gifts and talents while lifting prayer requests up to God on behalf of someone else. We are stronger together, and the more we lean on the wisdom of others, the more we experience God in different ways.

When we master the fundamentals and prepare our heart and spirit for the mission ahead, God is gracious to meet us where we are and train us up in His wisdom and guidance. We learn, wait and obey as He leads. If we set ourselves up strong in His statutes beforehand, when God takes us off the bench and into the game, we already know the play and can run it well.

Run your mission. Prepare well with God and strengthen your spiritual core to run long and hard when it’s time.