Preparing for Worship
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed.” 1Peter 3:15-16*.
You see, God desires for me to sanctify Him in my heart. But during those times, my heart was not set on sanctification. Rather, my heart was set on worldly things. This is not pleasing to my God. I knew I was not doing what is good and perfect, so I chose to repent. I chose to make a conscience change. So I began to make preparations for worship.
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Throughout the scriptures, we read of the Holy feasts of the Jews. They were to prepare for the Holy feast before the day of it’s arrival. For Passover, they were to select a lamb 14 days before it was slaughtered. They were to prepare the feast the night before the Passover. They were to PREPARE. So I began to prepare.
I want to share with you some of the things that I do to prepare. Each part of this series shares a tip that I do to prepare ahead so that my mind is prepared as I enter into the worship assembly. Doing these things allow me to have a mind set on the Spirit and a desire to worship in truth, sanctifying the Lord God in my heart.
Making Lord’s Day Preparations: Tip #1
Prepare a Clean Home
Make sure that by Saturday evening the household is cleaned and uncluttered as much as possible.
One of my biggest issues was that I struggled in those morning rush-abouts to find what I needed. This is one of the most important roles that God has designed for women, to be a “keeper of the home” Titus 2. By keeping a home that is organized, uncluttered and in order, I am able to find the needed things for getting ready. Towels, clothing, toiletries, dishes, food supplies, BIBLES, etc.
This is not to say that I have a perfectly clean and spotless home. Throughout the week my home gets cluttered and sometimes downright dirty like the average home. That being said, by mid-afternoon on Saturday, I begin to put things away, straighten as I go, wash the dinner dishes and make sure that the clean laundry is put away, (I have a bad habit of leaving folded clothes in baskets after Monday’s laundry day and Thursday’s laundry catch up.) By having the basic everyday useful items where they belong, I have lessened the stress for getting out of the house on time and in order.
Don’t get me wrong, my goal isn’t simply to have a clean home. It is to have everything in order so that I don’t feel rushed, confused and disorderly, but rather that my mind is clear so that I can set it upon things above.
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As I read this on our way to worship, I realize this is exactly what I need! Thank you!
I’m so glad that you were able to relate. God bless!