Let’s get ready for God’s goodness.

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

God’s goodness can feel elusive at times, especially when life brings us one too many challenges. We pray to God for change, but His ways are not our ways. God operates by a different set of standards, and while I am thankful, it can feel frustrating. Never believe, however, that God isn’t willing to give us good. Matthew 7:11 reminds us: If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! God is standing by, waiting to touch each of our lives in a personal and meaningful way. So for any person that’s been praying for good to enter your life, I have one simple question… are you ready?

Here are three ways to prepare for God’s Goodness

1. Are you acknowledging your true needs?

What we think we need versus what we actually need may not be the same. It’s key that we spend time daily with God, getting to know Him and inviting Him to enter our lives. If we truly believe God wants the best for us, then wouldn’t we want to know what that best actually is? There are many scars I could have avoided had I stayed on God’s course, instead of venturing off onto unfulfilling paths.  Yet, through each mistake, God speaks to me, encouraging me to come back home. It’s time I do so. By submitting to God, I can acknowledge my true needs, and ground my actions in His will.

2. Are you ready to work?

So often God is willing to send blessings our way, but that doesn’t mitigate the work required on our end. God can part the Red Seas, but we still need to put one foot in front of the other in order to make our way across. Spiritual work is not easy.  We learn lessons along the way that humble us, enlighten us, and teach us how to knock down the future roadblocks we encounter.  We begin to understand “…that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4) As we build character, we learn to stand firm in God’s goodness, His mercy, and His grace.  I encourage each of you to keep going, no matter how many times you fall or how rough the journey.  Be comforted in knowing that one of God’s greatest gifts is to be able to provide a peace that surpasses all understanding.

3. Are you mentally in a place to receive what’s next?

Don’t be too quick to say yes.  There are times God has delayed answering my prayers simply because I wasn’t prepared for a different answer other than my own. I was too stuck on how the blessing should look, so I couldn’t open my heart to what my blessing was intended to be. Don’t block God’s greatness because you’re stuck on life’s average.  We often think we know what is best, but we have to accept God knows better. Increase your faith by preparing yourself for God’s goodness. ­­Ask Him to remove what and who shouldn’t be in our lives so there is room for God to grow in our hearts and minds. Only then will we want to be surrounded by what God has for us.

In conclusion, I know that God wants good for us. I’m thankful that God’s goodness doesn’t depend on anyone else agreeing. What God blesses us with is His choice. It’s up to us to decide whether or not we will respect, cherish, and express gratitude for what He has done. If you find yourself praying for good to enter your life, take a look around and see if it’s already arrived.  You may be waiting on God, but in all actuality, God is waiting on you. Are you ready for God’s goodness? I sure hope so…if not, now is the time to get ready.