A Time To Prepare

Winter usually means lots of time at home, cosying up through the ever-longer nights. I wonder, what are we doing with our long evenings in?

December is a great time for preparation - and not just for the upcoming Christmas festivities! In this blog series, we’re looking ahead to 2026 and asking: God, what is Your plan for my year?

Have a read of last week’s thoughts on seeking God about what’s to come. If He has put something on your heart - a way to serve Him and those around you too - we can start to use right now as a time to prepare for it.

Like in the parable of the ten virgins, told by Jesus, scripture tells us the importance of preparation.

'Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.' (Proverbs 24: 27, ESV)

'I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.' (Romans 12: 1 -2, ESV)

A Journey to Jesus

Look at the Christmas story, how Mary and Joseph prepared once they’d received instructions from God about the upcoming birth of Jesus.

After Mary became pregnant, they got married. Then when baby Jesus was almost due, Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem on a donkey. This fulfilled many Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, because God had gone before them, preparing the way.

In the story of their lives, we see them led on a journey by the hand of God, to be in the right place for Jesus’ arrival. Certainly, we can learn something from this.

What can you do?

Whatever lies ahead for you next year (and beyond!), there may be steps you can take now to prepare for God’s plans.

Do you need to learn more, perhaps reading more scripture or Christian books? (That’s where He’s leading me!) Is there work you need to do, or actions you need to put in place? Some of us, actually, may need to rest, if that’s our season before a big job ahead. You may even feel it’s all of the above!

And if you’re anything like me, we don’t always feel we know what to do - even if we think we have a glimpse of what God’s bigger plan for us might be. Sometimes, I can feel more lost than ever when I think about what’s ahead. But Scripture tells us we should put in work to prepare ahead of time, so it’s important that we seek to find out what we can do.

'Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.' (Proverbs 28: 19, ESV)

'Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?' (Luke 14: 31, ESV)

Ask God!

The amazing thing is… We know God! We have a Father in heaven who loves to hear from us in prayer, speak with us in whatever way He speaks to us individually, and make our paths straight so that we are able to fulfill His plans. We can simply put the plans before God, and trust that He will work and show us how to work alongside Him.

'Faithful is He that calleth you, who also will do it.' (1 Thessalonians 5: 24, KJV)

'For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?' (Luke 14: 28, ESV)

Believe!

For me, when I read the Christmas story, a moving part of Mary’s journey is her belief. Amidst all the preparation she had to make - and in such circumstances! - she always believed.

In fact, it was the first thing she did.

'And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”' (Luke 1: 38, ESV)

As I look ahead to what I think God is asking me to do, and try to take the steps towards it now, I find inspiration in Mary’s journey and in her belief. For when God speaks, we can trust Him to faithfully do it.

'And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.' (Luke 1: 45, ESV)

'Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.' (Hebrews 11: 1, ESV)

'For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.' (1 Timothy 4:10, ESV)

Let’s take some time through December to ask God in prayer, not only what He wants us to do for Him next year, but if there’s anything He wants us to do now to take a step closer to that vision. And then… Let’s lean on our Saviour and Friend, Jesus, to help us along the journey. This is going to be fun!

'Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.' (Psalm 37: 4-6, ESV)

A prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank you that we can always trust You to show us the way.

We ask that You reveal to us the things that You want us to do for You, no matter how big or small they may seem to us.

Show us the steps we can take on the journey towards fulfilling Your will.

We pray, Jesus, that You will walk by our sides as we take these steps, guide us with Your loving hand and strengthen us through Your Holy Spirit.

Help us, Lord, to follow You with our whole hearts. And help us with any unbelief, we pray.

Thank you, Father, that you always guide us in love.

In Jesus’ name we pray.

Amen

Have a great week everyone!

Love, Kim