Earlier in the week I, Anne, revealed my love of preparation. OK, maybe some of you might call it my obsession with preparation. That’s fair. This week I’ve shared with you how God is helping me be less prepared physically and more prepared spiritually. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be prepared physically as well.
Proverbs 6:6-8 says, “Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.”
Proverbs 13:16 says, “A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it!”
Proverbs 24:27 says, “Prepare your work outside and make it ready for yourself in the field; afterwards, then, build your house.”
We have read that God is a God of preparation and order. In Proverbs, we are reminded He has also equipped us with the ability and wisdom to prepare for the future in our physical world as well. Here are a few practical ways to become more prepared in your physical life:
Finances- Prepare for the future with a savings account. Even if you can only set aside $10 a month toward savings, start where you can and add to it as more money becomes available. This will enable you to respond to emergencies that come your way.
Schedule- Keep a calendar that includes both work and home events. Schedule time with God, time off, time with family, and time spent with your church or community of faith. Make sure there is margin in your schedule that will enable you to respond to God as He gives you new opportunities.
Meals- We spend a lot of time eating and this is often a place where we are most tempted to get off track when we don’t prepare in advance. When fail to plan our meals we tend to spend more money on food that is less healthy. Once a week, look at your schedule and decide in advance what you will eat and when you will eat out. This will prevent you from making spur of the moment decisions to grab fast food.
Cleaning- Do you spend your day off cleaning, doing laundry, and putting everything back in order after a busy week? Clean as you go throughout the week. Give yourself 10 minutes to run through your house every day and set things right. Cleaning throughout the week will help you enjoy your day off, which will help you be more rested during the week.
Sleep- One of the best things you can do to prepare physically is to get a good night’s sleep. Establish a bedtime routine each night, doing the same things every night at around the same time. Put away the electronics and read a book, do some relaxing stretches, journal for a while, thinking about all you have to be thankful for or read your bible. Set your mind in the right state of mind to focus on good things as you sleep and rest.
What are your tips for preparing yourself practically? Let us know in the comments below!
Author: Anne Bosarge