Watchfulness is Preparation and Waiting Produces Confirmation

The Holy Spirit led me in praying the following prayer for the Church: “Ask the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers into His harvest field because the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few”. (Matthew 9:36-38). During prayer, I was led to Matthew 14:13-21 where Jesus only had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish to feed a multitude. He took the bread and fish, looked up to heaven, gave thanks, and broke the loaves. The food was multiplied feeding 5 thousand men plus an unspecified number of women and children. As I continued to press in prayer, I was given Luke 22:32 where Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail.

Preparation is Key

In waiting upon the Holy Spirit over a period of time, I was led to Luke 12:35-48. This passage impresses upon us to be watchful (ready for service). In continuing to wait upon Him, I received: Watchfulness is preparation and preparation is crucial to the success of anything we undertake. Abraham Lincoln succinctly stated, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” In hearing and listening to His Spirit and Word, our reaction and action to what He says prepares us to receive from Him so that His plan is fulfilled. For example, when we hear (perceive) and actively listen (by verifying what we have heard from Him), it confirms that we understand Him. “And I will fasten him like a peg in a secure place.” (Isaiah 22:23). Then we are equipped (prepared and trained) to pray His Will and speak His Word through Jesus, by His grace.

Preparation Leads to Multiplication

Therefore, it is necessary and significant to watch and to wait upon Him, and do what He guides us to say and do. When we do this with thankfulness to Him, we will cooperate with His Spirit, His Word, and His time; and He will multiply what we offer to Him, which comes from Him anyway. “So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (1 Corinthians 3:7). He will go ahead of us to prepare hearts, and we shall unite and work together in Him. “Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 15:5-6).

Connect The Dots

In continuing to prepare and wait upon Him, I came across the post by Evangelist Uche, “Connect the Dots.” Source: https://evangelistuche.com/connect-the-dots/. He reminded me of all that I had been praying and reflecting on, and doing for the past 4 weeks. He inquired of me, “Do you recognize the pattern?” Everything became clear. This was the pattern for vision, service and fulfillment in the Kingdom of God. Our ways and thoughts are certainly not His ways and thoughts.