A Ready Heart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9UB5U7kSec&start_radio=1&list=RDz9UB5U7kSec

Behold ~ Hillsong

And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ~ Matthew 14:28 NKJV

We all love inspiring stories. They move us. The Bible is full stories like Ester and David and Goliath. At the base of these stories is a call from God and a ready heart.

Many of my friends are in a time of prayer and fasting. One thing a fast does is make your heart ready. It prepares you to not just hear from God, but to respond. Each fast is for a season and each season prepares you for the calling in the next.

I’ve been thinking a lot about Peter and his eagerness to jump out of the boat and go toward Jesus. Yes, we know when Peter turned his gaze from Jesus, he began to sink. But the initial eagerness came from a prepared heart—one that had been in the presence of his Lord and drank deeply of His teaching.

You’ll never be able to dream up all the possible requests God will make of you. But it’s less about His requests and more about the readiness of your heart. Matthew 12 says, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” (v34 NKJV). A ready heart says, “Yes, Lord.”

One day, likely when you least expect it, the Lord will call. Will your heart be ready? How will you respond?

Father, I pray that we would all make being in Your presence our priority. Prepare us. Help us to be made ready to respond when You call. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ~ Matthew 14:29 NKJV

©Heather Potts 2019

Prepared pt. 2

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; ~ Psalm 23:5 NKJV

Sitting in an empty parking lot, we reviewed our options: Brad was unable to work, had failed to elect short-term disability, and chose to reject car payment insurance. Due to our two small children and a disabled husband, I was unable to work. We had no local family support and no savings or emergency fund. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning of our painful and long story. The enemy planned and primed the situation, bringing about every ounce of pain, fear, and strain.

But God was prepared.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me… ~ Psalm 23:4 NKJV

IN THE PRESENCE OF MY ENEMIES

Though the devil meant to harm and destroy us, God used it for good, (see Genesis 50:20). That season was devastatingly painful, but God walked with us the whole time. At the very moment when the enemy thought he had won, God brought healing and restoration. But God didn’t stop there! In the presence of the enemy—who was already burning with anger after his loss—God brought about and wrote down a story of healing and beauty and victory.

In the presence of my enemy, God has prepared a table before me.

Whatever you are walking through—even if it’s bad, even if it’s worse—know that God is walking with you. And He’ll bring you through, so that you can sit down at the table that He has prepared for you.

©Heather Potts 2017