Holding Onto God’s Promises: Prepare for the Promise!
Preparation changes everything. Preparation minimizes anxiety and generates peace. This can help us when holding onto God’s promises as we wait. While waiting, we can be preparing!
Even when the plans change, we can adapt to implement a plan in a different way or go a different direction. Jesus said in the movie, The Chosen, “Get used to different.”
Since COVID-19, a virus that has shaken the world, we are getting used to different. We are making preparations for a new normal for everyday living.
How will you prepare, while you wait? What will your new normal look like? As we look at four ways the disciples made preparations for their New Normal, let’s look at how we can make preparations for the Father’s Promises in our lives.
This is a modified sample taken from the Bible study “A 2020 Vision of Acts:Empowerment to Speak Things Seen and Heard by His Spirit.” Learn more here.
Four Ways The Disciples Prepared For the New Normal= Four Ways We Can Prepare While Holding Onto God’s Promises
Way One: Prepare Your Future with Complete Peace – Luke 24:36-53
The disciples’ anxieties were evident. Times were uncertain. But Jesus prepared them with His peace for the difficult and different days ahead. What is your peace meter reading? Does it read infrequent, on occasion, or frequently in peace? You will need to prepare for the days ahead with Jesus’ Complete peace in spirit, soul, and body.
How will you prepare to live in and with His peace as your new normal in these uncertain days?
Way Two: Prepare the Temple of the Holy Spirit – Acts 1
It was routine in Israel to prepare for The Three Major Festivals of the Lord every year. They also prepared the Temple for Sabbath. Priests prepared significant elements for worship in the Temple.
Let’s prepare the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). It seems most of us prepare for and spend more time with the church than we do with Jesus. Why do we need time with Him? “Times of refreshing come from the presence of the Lord.” (Acts 3:20)
How will you prepare the Temple of the Holy Spirit and find your new normal from His refreshing?
Way Three: Prepare to Receive the Promise of the Father – Acts 2-3
All of the Holy Spirit comes within me for me – The Holy Spirit clothes me with power and comes upon me for you. Now, they knew God as Father, Jesus instructed the disciples to wait on the Promise of the Father. He was sending One just like Him. They were getting used to different, to a new normal, and for power upon them.
Electricity was sent to homes and buildings in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, but not without preparations. In order to receive electricity, owners installed special equipment to receive power. Requirements were to prepare to pay the costs and be ready with the necessary equipment, while waiting to receive power. The Holy Spirit will send His power to those who are prepared and waiting on Him. He is a gentleman and will not push Himself on anyone.
Are you prepared to receive His power to shape your future for your new normal and share a message with the world?
Way Four: Prepare by Praying, While on Your Way – Acts 3-4
Jesus prepared the disciples for the things and days ahead. He prepared them to pray and know God as Father. Because the disciples prayed in isolation, they knew how to pray when someone needed prayer or for unexpected situations.
Set a new normal to Pray Like This. Then, watch the Lord give you opportunities to minister works greater>than His. Your new normal will fix your eyes on Jesus. Your new normal will refuse to withhold speaking about things He has done and said. Pray Like This to pray, while on your way. Preparation changes everything. And, the disciples prepared (Acts 1-4):
- They Waited and Prayed. How will you wait and pray?
- They Prayed and Shared life. How will you pray and share life?
- They Shared Life and Fixed Eyes on Jesus. How will you share life and fix eyes on Jesus?
- They Fixed Eyes on Jesus and Prayed for Anyone (no distinctions).
How will you fix eyes on Jesus and pray in isolation (now) so you may prepare by praying, while on your way?
Find out more at:
Go deeper in A 2020 Vision of Acts
