Ready, but Not Rigid: The Spiritual Side of Preparation
There seems to be a misconception that if you plan you are not Spirit led. However, nothing could be farther from the truth.
In the hands of God, preparation becomes a spiritual gift. It’s the unseen work that honors Him, shows love to others, and opens the door for the Holy Spirit to move. And when we prepare well, we’re not tied down—we’re actually freed up to follow God’s leading.
You’re a Seasoned Pro, So Why Do You Need to Prepare?
If you’ve been in ministry for a while, it’s tempting to think you don’t need to prepare anymore. You’ve taught before. You’ve led small groups. You’ve spoken in front of others. Surely you can just “wing it,” right?
But Scripture reminds us that preparation is part of faithfulness.
“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” — Proverbs 21:31
Preparation doesn’t show a lack of faith. It actually shows that we trust God enough to be ready.
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What Preparation Should Be (and Should Not Be)
Preparation Honors God
When we prepare, we’re treating the message with the weight it deserves.
Paul wrote to Timothy:
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15
Preparation shows reverence for God’s Word and for the people who will hear it.
Preparation Displays Your Love for Others
Taking time to prepare is an act of service. It says, “You matter enough for me to be thoughtful and intentional.”
“In humility value others above yourselves.” — Philippians 2:3
Preparation means we value our listeners enough to be clear, thoughtful, and intentional.
Preparation Makes You Ready to Be Flexible
Here’s the irony: the better prepared you are, the freer you are to follow the Spirit in the moment.
Jesus told His disciples:
“Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour.” — Matthew 10:19–20
The disciples were already being trained by Jesus, but he reminded them that when they faced situations beyond their preparation, the Spirit would give them the words.
Preparation doesn’t box us in; it equips us to pivot with confidence. Preparation isn’t a cage. It’s a launchpad for Spirit-led flexibility.
What Preparation Is Not
- Not About Control
Preparation is surrender, not control. James reminds us:
“Instead you ought to say, ‘If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.’” — James 4:15
Control says, “Everything must go my way.” Preparation says, “I’ve done my part, but I trust God with the outcome.
- Not About Perfection
Perfectionism makes it about us. But Paul said:
“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” — 2 Corinthians 4:7
We prepare with excellence, not so we appear flawless. There is no one perfect, not one. Our objective is to rely on God so that He is glorified, not us.
A Personal Testimony: Preparation + the Spirit in Action
In preparation for a youth mission trip, I spent several weeks training student leaders to memorize Bible passages, practice teaching, and learning how to lead backyard Bible clubs. While on the trip, teens were assigned specific roles to lead the children during the Bible club meetings.
One of our teens was assigned to lead the memory verse portion of the club, but on the day it was his turn, something unexpected happened. He connected with a child with special needs who stayed apart from the group. She let him sit beside her on the jungle gym. I could tell God was at work in that moment.
When it was time to start, I didn’t want to pull him away. So I turned to the group and said, “He’s doing an important job—who can lead the memory verse in his place?” Immediately, another teen volunteered. Because they had all been trained, the transition was seamless.
That day I saw a clear demonstration of how preparation and the Spirit work together. Training gave us the flexibility. The Spirit gave us the discernment.
Closing Thought
Preparation is more than planning. It’s a spiritual practice.
It honors God.
It serves others.
It creates space for the Spirit to move.
“For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” — Luke 12:12
Preparation isn’t about being perfect. It’s about being ready to be used.
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