Have you ever thought once, twice ok, many times ALOUD, "God what is/was ALL this/that for?" Isaiah felt the same way in Isaiah 49: 4!!!
One morning as I'm spending time with the Lord and teleworking from my bed (I seriously thank HIM), I was reading a chapter in this book, 'The Making of a Leader by Frank Damazio,' one of the BEST, life investments I've made (thank you to my Apostle Bryan Meadows for the recommendation a few years ago) has been revelation and therapy in THIS season of navigation. In a particular chapter, Damazio is teaching about preparation. Upon initial thought, you may be like girl, D, come on. Seriously, you're about to write a post about preparation? And my response to this is YES, and here's why.
I didn't want to write this blog, mainly out of hesitation because I thought "oh, it may seem casually familiar to many." However, when I used to hear "Doneshia, the Lord is preparing you for x,y, and z..." looking back, I focused so MUCH on trying to be perfect to effectively complete the task that I didn't ask God for help or guidance with the preparation process. Preparation is a process and all processes have a time frame, limit, and season. I've been ignorant and perished for a lack of knowledge and understanding in all my ways because of incorrect processing in my thinking. I used to think preparation meant I had to prepare QUICKLY (The Lord is patient and kind because He's working on his daughter in the slow down and process ministry--lol). I am learning that everything doesn't have to be quick, as in--quick feet, quick fast, and in a hurry (shuffle those feet faster ).
Damazio (1988) wrote, "The Greek idea of preparation emphasized the act of making something ready to function PROPERLY." #functionproperly
Have you rushed THROUGH your process just to function without properly functioning? The Holy Spirit highlighted very clearly with this sentence, this scripture, James 1:4-8. Why?
Well because
Preparation takes a lot of patience. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit meaning it has to GROW IN YOU and she has to become perfect. One of the goals of patience is to perfect you to endure your preparation process, to complete the assigned task NOT JUST effectively but in excellence, and assure its proper functioning for OTHERS.
Preparation takes WISDOM. Ha, listen I can admit when I've done something wrong (note above). I hadn't previously thought this all the way through (OR at all ) that wisdom is part of your preparation process. I mean think about it, half the time, we don't always know what to do TO PREPARE for preparation. We just jump headfirst without counting the cost and be like ok God, what's next. Be just as confused and lost in warfare, swaying like a ship w/o a sail (I'm guilty too, lol). You need the wisdom to know HOW to navigate your season of preparation (assignment not included, lol) In the Scripture of Esther, sis had to take MANY milk baths soaks(months of soaking) before her appointment with the King. That's a whole sermon for later.
Preparation takes faith. It is what it is. Preparation takes faith because "results may vary!" After wisdom, it takes faith to MOVE on what God will tell you to collect or DO during your preparation season. And even in collecting, you may NOT SEE what you've prayed for, so you have to have faith to believe you heard from God and move based on what you heard. Ask ANY farmer!
Lastly on THIS subject for now (more later), but to encourage us all, hold fast and don't diminish the work God is doing IN and THROUGH you. God's INCREASE in YOU is for YOU and those called to you. I'm guilty of this too (the process of wholeness ain't pretty, free enough to say it) but the comparison of your benchmark to others and their reaping season. 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 used to be bitter going in but, it's gonna be sweet coming out because of grace God is giving me to understand in the season I'm IN. The man who plants and the man who water EACH have ONE purpose but God provides the increase by rewarding them according to their labor.
This is some HARD truth seru, because I wasn't as spiritually mature to lay before God LONG enough to UNDERSTAND my gift of times and seasons, I progressed in regret when the seasons were UP! This has been in MANY life areas. Not that it ever gets easier but I'm learning godly understanding makes it BEARABLE. What was it all for God was the question I posed earlier. What was all the hard work, sacrifice, loss, rejection, grief, sorrow, etc. for God? While I don't have ALL my answers, this morning sitting with God and RE-LEARNING about the preparation was the bread crumb I needed. There is a reward (both on Earth and IN Heaven( for diligently seeking God. I don't have it yet but my spirit bears witness. I've always been a hard worker (worked 3-4 jobs in college, grad school, etc.). I made good grades yet, I was never one to graduate debt-free. That hasn't been my testimony. I don't get random checks in the mail but shout out to the people who do because I rejoice WITH you. I haven't won a free car, paid house, free clothes, etc. whatever (you get the point). There is NO SHADE attached to any of this before anyone throws a mean mug. My post is this, everyone's preparation season is different! Let that sink IN because we hear it but don't digest it.
Esther wasn't the ONLY person in the scriptures being prepared. Mary wasn't the only person in the scriptures being prepared. Samuel wasn't the ONLY person in the Scriptures being prepared. Neither was David nor Moses. We often look at main characters and their "HUGE" reward and think oh, that was beautiful. He or she became a King or Queen, negating WHAT it COST to mount the platform. We also live in a society that will overlook others and their preparation season, by ignorantly profiling their life experiences. For instance Rahab, Deborah, Abigail (David's wife), Peter, Paul (Whew, the transformation from Saul, scary to go blind ) Noah, Nehemiah, Jonah...I mean the list goes on and on. You're important and you're survival through the process of preparation warrants that. You may NOT ever be "famous" or have a blue check, or get a bunch of likes. From planting a seed, or watering it.. stay with the preparation process and KNOW in DUE season, God will INCREASE YOU. The harvest that others will gain from YOUR toil will be worth it! And there will be NO regret or residue of "what was it all for?" Your legacy that you will leave is worth the seasons of preparation!
I'll leave you with this picture of this BEAUTIFUL cake, the "croquembouche!" Yes, it's expensive and a beauty to look at because of the DIFFICULTY of the process it takes to make. And you don't just devour it, you savor it a bit, by bit!
Stay in the fire, become refined and endure the preparation! In due season, you'll be able to truly say, "My prices just went UP!" #endureinfaithwithwisdom
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