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Living Ready
by Taylor Hoisington Matthew 25:10, "But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked." In Matthew 25, we read about the ten virgins. This story talks about how five of the ten virgins were wise, while the other five were foolish. The wise ones took extra oil for their lamps, while the foolish ones didn't take enough with them. This parable is talking about the importance of being ready when Jesus comes back. Will we be ready to meet our Bridegroom (Jesus) when He comes? God has caused me to think of this story in a whole new light! Although I need to be ready for when Jesus comes back, I also need to be ready for whatever it is that God desires to do in and through my life. How many of you have ever found it difficult to do things today that will benefit tomorrow? God has been dealing with me about the importance of being ready for the man He has in store for me to marry. Am I living my life in such a way that when God desires to move I'm prepared? I've found myself struggling to let go of a friendship with a boy that I've become close to, but I haven't had peace about this friendship from the start. I can see that where this boy is at isn't a place that is healthy for me. He isn't following wholeheartedly after Christ. Inwardly, I've struggled. I've begged God to make this person into the man I need, but it isn't happening, and I'm realizing it's time to let go. It's time to press through the momentary pain so that I can experience a life that will bless God and make a difference for His Kingdom. God has this amazing plan for all our lives, but sometimes we desire to hold onto things that we know God's told us to let go of because it's going to cause momentary pain if we let them go. The pain we will experience will vary with circumstances, but nonetheless, it's pain we'd rather avoid. There are many things in life that initially aren't comfortable, but if we can focus on the victory that is to come, those momentary discomforts will look all the more worth it because we know it's going to pay off! On the other hand, if we focus too much on not wanting to experience pain, we end up making poor decisions today that lead to problems tomorrow. We wonder what went wrong, and it all started with being more interested in today's comfort than in tomorrow's victory. I will ask again: Are we living ready? When God desires to bring blessings into our lives, have we given up the things He's told us to let go of in order to be ready to receive what He has in store? As I mentioned above about the friendship I haven't wanted to let go of, I must admit that I have noticed in my own life that I don't like giving up relationships ever. I'd prefer to hang onto relationships to the death and have God make every one of them work beautifully. However, that hasn't been the case for me. There have been people God has clearly told me to let go of, but I held on and begged Him to change His mind. I've held onto boys that I knew I wouldn't be equally yoked with, but I wanted God to change their hearts and make them into the man I needed. This hasn't happened yet. So far, God's told me to let go and trust Him. Let go of the back up guy and be ready when that man God has prepared for me does come into the picture. Will I be ready, or am I too concerned with today's comfort? You know, the holidays are coming up. Who wants to be single on the holidays? I don't! However, if I choose someone God's clearly told me, "No!" to, maybe I won't be alone this holiday, but perhaps I'll be alone for years to come. Someone once gave me a wonderful word of advice that someone else had given to her. That advice was this: "It's much better to be alone and single than alone and married." God sees where we're at today. He knows the desires of our hearts, and quite honestly I believe they are desires He has put there and wants to fulfill. But we can't be living unprepared like the five foolish virgins. We need to be ready because one day will come where who we've been waiting for will show up. The question isn't, "Will he come?" The question is, "Will I be ready when he does?" So, let go of the unhealthy relationships God's told you to let go of. Will you experience loneliness for a time? Most likely you will. But the good news is that it's momentary. It won't be forever, and in those moments of loneliness, I can guarantee if You'll fall into the arms of Jesus, you will experience Him in a deeper, more intimate way than ever before! Live ready! Dear Heavenly Father, So desperately I desire relationship! I desire to love and be loved. This desire is something I believe is instilled in many people's hearts, and You know about it. However, You have a time for everything, and sometimes You call us to wait. It's not comfortable today to have to wait, but the consequences of not living ready for tomorrow is missing out on some of the most wonderful blessings You desire to give to us. Please help us live ready even when that means having to sacrifice some things today that we'd rather hang on to. Help anyone else who is struggling in this area just as I am today. In Jesus' Name. Amen. Taylor desires to use the gift God has given her to write to reach people for Christ. More of her writings can be found on her facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gods-Girl-Devotionals/1438687046349953?ref=hl or in her book God's Girl Devotionals, My Journey Through Life with God by my Side Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |