How many times did I encounter those two words in my devotional time this morning? At least five or six.
The issue of preparedness has been on my mind a lot of late. Maybe it began when my brother landed in the hospital unexpectedly and was telling me that in the future he was going to have a bag already packed for such an emergency. In addition he’d have his passwords and crucial information in hardcopy form in case his electronics are uncharged or otherwise unavailable to give him the information he needs. I made a mental note to do the same.
Then Hurricane Helene headed in the direction of Florida’s gulf coast. The news was filled with warnings to people to prepare for the worst. Yet Florida is distant and my family there made necessary adjustments to their living situations that eased my mind. But it became personal when I checked the weather app on my phone first thing this morning and saw that locally we are under a High Wind Warning ourselves. When you live in a house surrounded by old trees, that is a concern. So was the reminder even yesterday on Facebook of the week years ago when high wind ravaged the power grid and so many were left without electricity for so long. For us it was just three days, but I vowed then to stock up on batteries and candles and such to be ready should it ever happen again.
Good intentions don’t count. Prepare today for trouble tomorrow, in every way – physically and spiritually, especially. The best weather forecaster in history has told us that trouble is on the way.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 16:33 NIV)
(photo credit: Unsplash/JinsooChoi)
