Do you begin preparing for something after you've been asked to do it, or before? Would you be willing to prepare before you were asked? Even if you have no idea how or when it will be used -- or even if it will?
Yes, there's the danger you could be doing it on your own. "Conviction" means the state of being convinced. Are you convinced? Are you willing to prove you're convinced? Anybody can prepare to teach or lead or parent or speak or build or run or score or love AFTER someone has asked you to.
But doesn't the Lord also lead through your heart, confirming things over time through your life and circumstances? Things you can't necessarily prove to anyone by showing them something?
Isn't faith the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen? Isn't it by faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible? (Heb 11:1, 3)
Isn't it true that the word some heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard? (Heb 4:2)
Doesn't He say His righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, His soul has no pleasure in him? (Heb 10:38)
And didn't by faith Abraham, even when he was called, obey by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going? (Heb 11:8)
Yes, you can say that when the Lord brings up the opportunity, then He gets the credit and it's time to prepare. But isn't God really proven when He brings the opportunity to a person who has already prepared for years by faith?
But what if you prepare and He doesn't bring the opportunity!
But what if He does, and you're not ready. Or worse, what if He doesn't because you're not ready...and you never know it.
Maybe God's ability to intimately lead and speak and accomplish His purpose is really proven when He uses what you wouldn't be had it not been for faith.
Your preparing when no one is looking, when no one has asked, when no one knows (and may never know) can be your story of His leading by faith. Is it enough that He knows?
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