Preparations
As I write this there is a Category 5 Hurricane Irma taking aim at Florida. They say it is the strongest storm ever recorded. People are urged to evacuate. Many are making preparations to ride it out. This includes gathering many kinds of provisions, reinforcing and securing anything of value, communicating with family, getting important documents and cash close at hand, and prayer.
Lately, I have been feeling unprepared. When bad things happen, you often don't have a chance to give last minute instructions. There is no time to save money when your company closes the doors unexpectedly. How would you cope if your wife announces she's leaving you? Does anyone know your wishes should you be incapacitated? Do you know the problems you cause if you don't have a will? If everyone was without power for 2 weeks, how would you survive?
That nagging at the back of your mind when you hear these questions? That is not fear. It's a confirmation from the Holy Spirit to trust God and perform your due diligence as he directs and provides. As the Arabic proverb says, "Trust God but tie up your camel."
God has given the people in the way of Irma time to evacuate. Some can't, some choose not to.
We can save for retirement, some choose not to.
We can work regularly at our marriage, some choose not to.
We can assume that the next paycheck will always be there, some choose not to.
We can plan to leave our loved ones to figure out where we put our important papers, some choose not to.
Maybe I should have called this one "Stewardship".
Following the Holy Spirit does not mean we are absolved from responsibilities for preparation. Being prepared gives us freedom, so long as you don't take your eyes off God and put your trust in provisions.
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