Luke 12:22-40

[22] And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
[23] The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
[24] Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
[25] And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
[26] If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
[27] Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
[28] If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
[29] And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
[30] For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
[31] But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
[32] Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
[33] Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
[34] For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
[35] Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
[36] And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.
[37] Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
[38] And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.
[39] And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.
[40] Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

This is not only a word of preparation, but a word of encouragement to know that we have a way to be prepared for no matter what is to come. The most important thing I would like to stress from this passage is the “take no thought”. Please do not think this is to not give any consideration whatsoever. This word was intended to remind them of the importance and priority of God and to not allow the wordly influences to supercede. Many people in that time valued their garments and religion far more than they did anything else, and even in the day we live in we still see that desire as a battle unto our flesh! The encouraging word for me is about the raven, simply because a raven does not give regard for the next meal. I guess you could say one animals lack of regard for the next provision should be the stirring of our faith for the victory in the next trial!

2 Timothy 4:1-6

[1] I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
[3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
[4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
[5] But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.
[6] For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

Paul was emphasizing that once you had the word of Christ in your life to be ready no matter what and to be prepared to face many circumstances such as rejection, difference of opinion, and even opposition to your obedience. He was reminding those in that time (and if we read it, for us as well) that sufferings will be present but the presence of God will be there to make a way for you through all things as well!

1 Peter 5:2

[2] Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Most importantly, as a friendly reminder to you I want to say that even though it is hard but to stay willing and flexible to what God has for you in His plan. It may seem hard, impossible or without logic to our own minds; however God’s ways are above ours and we need to hang in there and hold on with all we have until we have that breakthrough for ourselves and our loved ones! And trust me, it’s worth the wait!