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Pack Your Bags, Christian! Topics: Preparation, Prayer
"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." - Mark 1:35
I did it again today.
I did something that I have done countless times before, but it continues to
amaze me at how profoundly foolish I can be sometimes. Today, I went on a short trip and I didn't pack. I left out without taking some things that I needed along the way.
And the worst thing about it is, I didn't forget to pack...I just didn't do
it. When I awoke this morning, the first thing that popped into my mind was,
"pack your bags." I have found, through the years, that God is a very practical God and He very clearly reminded me, as I got out of bed this morning, to pack. I agreed with God that it was a good idea and I kind of made a mental note to pack after I took my shower. When I was toweling off, again I sensed God saying, "pack your bags." "Thanks for reminding me," I prayed aloud. "I'll get to it as soon as I eat breakfast." After I finished my Frosted Flakes, I remembered that I needed to pack, but the telephone rang and I got behind and I simply left on my trip without packing.
I didn't remember anything about it again until, you guessed it, I needed something that I had failed to bring with me. Have you ever had a flat tire without a spare packed in your vehicle? Or, having arrived at your hotel, you find you have no means of paying for the room? Have you ever walked into an important bank meeting without your proposal? Those things didn't happen to me today, but those KINDS of things happened to me. Everywhere I turned I found myself faced with a situation that I was unprepared to handle...and it all went back to the fact that I did not packed before leaving on my trip.
What trip did I take today? The same as I do everday. I went to work, the
grocery store, the post office, the tennis courts and to church..the usual stuff.
You see, each day of our lives is a trip. It is a journey, sometimes into the familiar settings, other times into unknown places. And if our journey, our trip, is to be a smooth and effective one, we must remember to pack our bags, that is to pray and read God's Word. That's the packing that God reminded me to do before I left out this morning. That's the packing that I put off until I didn't have time. That's the reason my trip was so miserable.
When I faced temptation today, I wasn't prayed up and I didn't have the Word fresh on my mind, and I wasn't prepared to do battle. I had that important meeting, so to speak, and I didn't have my proposal with me. Then, when I received criticism from a peer, I stayed discouraged most of the trip. I had a blowout, with no spare tire handy. Somewhere along the way, I had to make a crucial decision, but didn't know what God's will was for me. I made it to the hotel, but didn't have any means of paying for my room. All along the trip today I met distractions, obstacles and "detours." There were temptations, opportunities to serve, disappointments,
discouragements, successes, failures...just life in general. I wasn't prepared
for any of them. Why? I didn't pack my bags. I didn't begin my day in prayer and in the Word of God.
Think about it. Typically, the FIRST thing you do when you take a trip or go on vacation is PACK. You make sure you have the things that you are going to need along the way. Packing always comes before leaving home.
Our life is a trip, it is a journey. We need to pack FIRST, pray and read the
Bible, before heading into our day. Above all, we need to make sure that we have the things that we are going to need along the way. Things like the power to overcome temptation, the love to help others, the words to encourage the downcast, the wisdom to make Godly decisions, the grace to withstand the pressures, the mercy to endure the hardships and the knowledge that Jesus Christ is not just our co-pilot, but our pilot, as we journey into the next 24 hours.
So. You're taking a trip today, huh? What are you going to do first?
Pack your bags, Christian!
Have a "Wonderful DAY in Christ,"
Jimmy D. Brown