Once again, I’m thinking months ahead. That’s the life of a writer for you.
Writers are always looking ahead, writing seasonal material months in advance. During the heat of summer, we’re doing our best to slip into a holiday frame of mind, trying to conjure up all kinds of Christmasy feelings and capture them on paper. Right now I’m thinking May as I work on Mother’s Day submissions for Blue Mountain Arts.
Each editor, publication, and project has its own editorial calendar with its own deadlines. As writers, we have to look ahead and stay on top of the ones we’re interested in, or we lose the opportunity to have our work considered. We’ve got to keep future dates in mind and work to be prepared.
It helps to look ahead and be prepared in our personal lives, too, doesn’t it? Each season of life has its own deadlines, so to speak. We go to college to be prepared to enter the work force and provide for our families. When our kids are born, we start college funds so we can be ready to put them through school. We try to prepare for the empty nest by investing in our marriages and pursuing personal interests. We save and plan for retirement so our kids won’t be forced to support us one day. We look ahead. We prepare. If we don’t, someone suffers the consequences.
What about in our walk with the Lord? What can we do to be spiritually prepared for life’s changes and challenges? I’ve found no better preparation than being in the Word of God day in and day out. In Colossians 3:16, Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…”, and we can do that by reading and studying our Bibles, by memorizing and meditating on scripture, and then by living it out in our daily lives.
If we prepare by planting the Word of God in our hearts, the Holy Spirit will faithfully bring to mind the truths, wisdom, and encouragement we need as situations arise. Jesus said, “‘But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.'” (John 14:26)
So let’s look ahead. Let’s not only be prepared in our work and personal lives. Let’s be ready in our spiritual lives as well. If we don’t, we’ll surely suffer the consequences.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105
*What suggestions do you have for being spiritually prepared for life’s challenges?
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