This was yesterday. Crazy. Today, Angela sends an email saying “get ready”.
Joni Ames:
“GET READY! WE MUST PREPARE FOR WHAT IS AHEAD”
“May we be those who know our God intimately and are strong in Him, so that we will stay strong and do great exploits!”
“For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows” (Mark 13:8). “And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from Heaven” (Luke 21:11).
The Bible tells us that the signs for the “end of the age” will include earthquakes, fires, floods, pestilences, wars, famines, troubles, and fearful sights and great signs from Heaven. Even so, these things would only be the “beginnings of sorrows” (and we’ve had a few of these in America).
Day after day, I talk with and counsel friends and strangers alike, who are having a rough time with what has already been happening. So if these are only the “beginnings of sorrows,” what are we going to do when we get to the “middle,” let alone towards the “end?”
The Bible asks us, “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?” (Jeremiah 12:5). This verse so penetrates my being and causes me to press into the Lord!
GET READY!
Folks, the horses are on their way. And if we are going to be the “light that shines in darkness” (see Isaiah 60:1-2), then we have got to GET READY by beginning to “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees” (Isaiah 35:3), so that we CAN say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you” (Isaiah 35:4).
Hebrews 12:12-14, says it to us like this, “Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.”
And in Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
BE PREPARED
The Lord began to speak to many before the turn of the century into the year 2000 to “prepare” for the times ahead, but it wasn’t for Y2K. Back then, I began to tell people, even if nothing happened for Y2K, to know that they HAD heard from the Lord anyhow. However, many who stocked up then, got embarrassed because “nothing happened” and they wanted to get rid of everything. I believe the Lord allowed these times “to be alert” so that we WOULD prepare for other things to come. The Lord knows what is ahead, and even if people had those supplies to simply send to victims of Hurricane Katrina and disasters in other places, God allowed it to be so. And I believe He is speaking to many others in this time to “Prepare.”
PREPARING OUR HEARTS FOR HIM!
Preparation is important to the Lord. First and foremost, we need to prepare ourselves and our hearts for HIM. David prepared a place for the ark of God, and in this day, WE are that “ark.”
“David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it” (1 Chronicles 15:1).
It is good to search our own hearts and get rid of any “idols” we may have, “Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God” (2 Chronicles 19:3).
King Rehoboam didn’t prepare his heart, and this is what 2 Chronicles 12:14 says happened to him as a result, “And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the Lord.”
When we humble ourselves and prepare our hearts for the Lord, He responds in a positive way: “Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear” (Psalm 10:17).
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).
“Jotham became mighty, because he prepared his ways before the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 27:6).
There will be many “suddenlies” for which we must be prepared for IN ADVANCE. And, like Hezekiah, we’ll be glad we did, “Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly” (2 Chronicles 29:36).
Many of you who are out there in the wilderness of the day need to do as John the Baptist did–prepare the way of the Lord in the midst of the “desert” of today. You may not ever be known, and you may even be misunderstood and maligned, but God knows your heart, and as you prepare yourself and a people, you will do great exploits!
Like John, you also are, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; Make straight in the desert a highway for our God” (Isaiah 40:3).
Like the wise virgins, the Lord wants us to be prepared by “getting our own oil” from the Holy Spirit. Matthew 25:1-4 reminds us, “Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the Bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”
PREPARING FOR BATTLE
What general is there who would not prepare his armies for battle ahead? Whether spiritual or natural, whether for defense for war or natural disasters, the Lord wants us to be prepared. And so He says to us:
“Proclaim this among the nations: ‘Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near, let them come up'” (Joel 3:9).
“He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Psalm 18:34, 2 Samuel 22:35).
“Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones” (2 Chronicles 26:14).
And woe to those who would try to weaken God’s warriors: “Therefore the princes said to the king, ‘Please, let this man be put to death, for thus he weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking such words to them. For this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm'” (Jeremiah 38:4).
GOD IS PREPARING VICTORY FOR US!
And in the midst of it all, the Lord wants to remind us that He prepares victory for us:
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (Psalm 23:5).
Even when the enemy thinks that he is preparing defeat for us, like Haman, he will be preparing his own, “So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s wrath subsided” (Esther 7:10).
“They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me; Into the midst of it they themselves have fallen. Selah” (Psalm 57:6).
We must remember that our relationship with the Lord is of utmost importance, for as Daniel 11:32 says, “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” May we be those who know our God intimately and are strong in Him, so that we will stay strong and do great exploits!
GOD IS PREPARING US FOR ETERNITY WITH HIM!
No matter what happens on the face of this earth, Eternity is much more important and lasts a lot longer! Whatever we do, we must keep our eyes on the fact that the time which we are here, is merely “boot camp” and preparation for what is ahead. And Jesus is preparing us for it, as well as preparing a place for us after our days here.
In John 14:2, Jesus promises, “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” And in John 14:3, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
For as we are faithful, Matthew 25:34 promises, “Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.'” At the same time, Matthew 25:41 says, “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'”
In Esther 4, she prepared herself to meet with the King many times both physically and spiritually–with beauty treatments to get his favor, and fasting and prayer to get God’s.
PRAYER
Lord, we thank You that, as it says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
Help us to remember to “get our own oil,” and to seek only YOUR favor and approval. We love You, Lord, and we ask that You help us to be thoroughly prepared for what You have for us to do in this time, and that we properly prepare the way for You as well. Help us to focus on You, hear You clearly, and be obedient to Your directions. We thank You that we are Your sheep, and we DO know Your voice, and You will direct every thought, word and deed, as we stick close enough to You, to hear Your heart beat, Your voice, and even, Your breath. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Joni Ames
A.C.T.S. Ministries
Email: joniames@aol.com
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