Be prepared.

About two weeks ago I had a crazy dream. My church was giving diving classes. Teaching people to dive. The diving was taking place in the baptistery. People were diving into the baptistery and just disappearing into the depths until hours later they would resurface. (Tell me there's no symbolism there...)
We were going to have ceremony of sorts for those who had completed the program and learned to dive. I was at the church talking to people, when I realized I didn't have the right clothes for the ceremony (diving clothes). So I had to run home and get the clothes. The entire thing was being held up, just for me, so I was hurrying and upset. Then when I made it back to the church, something else happened and apparently I set my diving clothes down. I couldn't find them again. People waited and waited for me. I remember vividly my pastor turning to me and looking so disappointed. Then suddenly all around me were disappointed faces.
The ceremony continued, and I was unable to be a part of it because I never could find those diving clothes.

I remember waking up feeling so disappointed.

Matthew 17:15-21
Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.


What? "Nothing is impossible for you" BUT. BUT? BUT?!? But this kind needs prayer and fasting to accomplish. Grain of mustard seed or prayer and fasting?
Which is it?

Whether I completely "get it" or not, the fact remains the same. I have time, right this moment, to be preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.

When that challenge comes and I'm claiming all sorts of promises about mustard seeds and mountains and "possible impossibilities" I don't want to be reminded of "Howbeit". Today I will pray, today I will fast. I don't want to be unprepared. There are things coming that I need to be prepared for. God is leading and moving and as He does those things challenges arise. And I don't want to ever be caught unprepared.

People are watching. Sometimes people are waiting. And sometimes the number of people looking at me seems staggering. But I don't want them to see me frantically looking around unprepared. I've wasted a lot of years and I've got a lifetime of preparation to make up for. Every ounce of preparation though, needs to be seasoned with mustard seeds. I've decided I want more seeds.

God help me to be in a constant state of readiness. Prepared and able to meet whatever tomorrow holds.