2 Kings 3:16 “And he said, ‘Thus says the LORD: Make this valley full of ditches’”.
There is an old adage which says that “all things come together for those who wait”. But that adage is not entirely the truth. All things do not come to those who wait but to those who prepare. There is a great illustration of this in 2 Kings 3. As part of God’s strategy for defeating the Moabites, God told the Israelites to dig a ditch so that He would fill it with water until it became a mighty river. They did, and as a result, they experienced a spectacular victory. But do not miss the point here. God said, “When you have dug the ditch, then I will fill it!” (See v. 17).
God can use anybody, but He does not; He uses prepared people. Moses lived to be 120. His first forty years were spent in a palace, his second forty years were spent in a wilderness, and his last forty years were spent fulfilling his God-given assignment. That is two-thirds of his life in preparation! What happens when you are not prepared? Things you hope will not happen. Often the dividing line between winning and losing is preparation! Singing “When you wish upon a star” will not make your dream come true – you have to prepare yourself! Paul’s ministry begins with the words, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). Whereupon God takes him into the desert for the next three years to teach him and prepare him for his ministry.
Whether your vocation is sacred or secular, you have to know what it will cost in terms of time, effort and resources, and prepare for it. “Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts” (Proverbs 24:3). So, the word for you today is – prepare yourself.
Confession for Today
I decree and declare to be always prepared to seize any opportunity that comes my way in the mighty name of Jesus.