³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the LORD.

Proverbs 21:31 [NKJV]

Just to be totally frank, I was actually quite distracted yesterday, so even though I did manage to finish a bit of my work-related task yesterday, for the largest part, I ended up watching TV shows yesterday. And yeah, that is what happened. So, even though I am very tempted to just jump right back into work this morning, I wanted to take this time to read the bible and pray to God instead. I’m really glad that I did because today’s daily bread feels like a much-needed reminder and also another extended lesson.

Part One: Being Ready/Prepared for God’s Blessings

The thing about experiencing God’s blessings, and His timing for all things, actually starts with us being ready and prepared for it. This is one of the earliest lessons that I had learned back in 2019. It did not happen quickly and honestly, I think it took quite long (at least that’s how it felt like). But for me to experience God’s incredible blessings in Aug 2019, I had to spend the past 2 years of my life preparing and readying myself. So when the time came for me to receive and experience His blessings, I was actually ready and well-prepared to not just receive it, but also to recognize that it is Him at work.

I think a big part of being ready and prepared is to be able to recognize the blessings when it presents itself. Many of us have spent our lives missing out on God’s blessings for us simply because we have failed at recognize His blessings and His timing.

So, let’s break this step down into two main things that we have to do so that we can be better prepared and ready for receiving God’s blessings in our lives:

1. First, we need to prepare ourselves in terms of our skills, knowledge and whatever it is that we are good at (or passionate about). If you believe that God has given you a purpose and a calling. And you are working towards those goals, then you need to first begin by preparing yourself for that eventual responsibility.
2. Secondly, it is more on the spiritual aspect of making ourselves more sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. This is where we really begin to discern if a particular opportunity is indeed from God. Not every opportunity that looks good to us is from God either. Because, we might seem good to us, God may have something even better installed for us. So it is good that we keep that perspective in mind.

Part Two: Never Stop Preparing Yourself

Now that you have recognized the blessing from God and you have received the blessing/opportunity. What is next? Is that the end of the process? Actually, I have come to learn today that it is not the end. In fact, this is really only the very beginning of the journey. You might think that you have been doing so much work, sacrificing so much time and energy (perhaps even money going to school) just to bring you to this point in your journey, and that you are all prepared and ready.

But more often than not, when God blesses us, truly blesses us with something amazing in our lives, He would give us something that is far and above our own imaginations. And with that in mind, chances are, there will be things that comes with this new opportunity that we aren’t prepared or ready for yet. We might have all the basic requirements fulfilled. But now the real work of being prepared and ready can finally begin. This is the next stage of our growth. And in order for us to continue growing, we have to keep learning.

When I think about my role and position in this new job that I’m currently in, I cannot help but feel that while I have been preparing and readying myself for nearly two decades for this opportunity, now that I have it, I’ve realized that there are still many things I don’t yet know. I feel like an athlete that has been spending years working towards their career goal of entering the big/pro leagues. And now that they are finally there, the real work begins. Once again, they have to start near the bottom of the team roster, and the whole cycle of proving themselves once again repeats. That is also what I really feel now that I have been blessed with this new career opportunity. I also understand that if I want my boss to entrust me with more responsibilities in this new role and the future roles that might come my way, I need to be willing and humble enough to keep learning, to keep preparing myself for what is to come.

Personal Prayer for Today

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this much-needed reminder that the work to prepare ourselves and to ready ourselves for Your next blessing never ends. Just because we have spent years of effort, sacrifices and maybe even money to get to where we are today, it doesn’t mean that we have finally arrived. But instead, this is only the beginning of something else – that next stage of our journeys, and growth.

And today, You have taught me and shown me that the work must continue if I want to continue experiencing new growth opportunities and to keep receiving those blessings from You.

For now, Father God, I want to come before You and thank You for blessing me with this amazing career opportunity. I’ll admit that there are many things that I don’t yet know. I am facing a new challenge and frankly, I feel a little inadequate at the moment. But I know that just like I have done before, I am willing to humble myself and to keep learning. I am grateful that skill-wise, I have been given this opportunity to enter the big leagues and this is something I have always wanted or so long.

I vow to give You all of my praises and You deserve all of the glory. In Jesus’ name I pray.

Amen.