“ “Be dressed and ready for active service, and keep your lamps continuously burning.””
““1 At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ 7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.” ”
Preparation is a very common and important aspect everything project or journey in life both physically and spiritually. Since the spiritual controls the physical, it is crucial to be always spiritually prepared as believers. These virgins were all church girls but only at the point of entry into the kingdom that their true relationship with God was exposed. As we prepare for this retreat, ask the Lord to help you so you are well prepared. The oil in your lamp needs to be present at all times. The Holy Spirit represents the oil, we are empowered in our spiritual race by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. We must be filled continuously. We must prepare as though it’s the last hour for the Lord’s return. We cannot wait to get ready only at the retreat.
Zechariah 4:6 “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts”. As we prepare, we must surrender to the power of the Holy Spirit, knowing that it must never be about us or our abilities but only by God’s Spirit that dwells in us.
John 10:27 “ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Psalm 143:8 “Let me hear Your loving devotion in the morning, for I have put my trust in You. Teach me the way I should walk, for to You I lift up my soul.” As we trust God for help, pray for the ability and attentiveness to hear Him so that when he leads we will understand and follow His direction and instruction for this season.
Ephesian 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” As we prepare ask for the grace not to allow any kind of word or discussion out of our mouths but only that which can build those around us.
Psalm 19:14 “ Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” Pray that every word from our mouths and the thoughts of the heart must be that which God will accept and thus brings Him glory.
Proverb 3:5-6 “5Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Pray that we will trust God in every step and refuse to hold on to anything else except the power of God’s guidance. We must refuse any influence of our past experiences and allow the freshness from heaven to dwell with us.
Proverbs 11:5 “The righteousness of the blameless directs their path, but the wicked fall by their own wickedness.” Pray that we will walk in righteousness as this will direct us right and keep us aligned with God’s plan for this season.