The Lord Is Ready!

STORY: Too Cool for School

Everywhere I look, it’s all about back-to-school. Sales. School supply lists. New clothes. Changed schedules. Lots of new beginnings.

My husband was an A-student all through school, but he still dreaded it so much that he’d get stomach aches. Even today, at <muffled words> years old, when the stores’ seasonal sections feature their back-to-school specials, he walks by it and breaks out into a cold sweat. Not sure how an honor student could dread school, but Russ was never ready to go back after summer break.

One thing I know is that whether the students are ready or not, their parents are certainly ready! For the last couple of weeks on Facebook, parents have been posting “first day of school” photos. Russ and I never had kids. I told him we should take a photo of ourselves holding up a sign that says, “first day at the school of hard knocks!” Because we’re getting ready for something new in our lives too.

Well, just like mom and dad are ready for their kids to go back to school, our heavenly Father is ready. He’s been ready. He is ready. He’s getting ready. (The eternal present tense.) Today, let’s look at what some of the Scriptures say about His preparedness. God is ready to hear, to help, to heal. We can learn from God’s readiness —receive it and live it!

STUDY: God is Ready to Bless Us

Always Ready to Help

[For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.] God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1 NLT)

• It’s interesting that this part of the psalm was to be sung by the soprano voices. Why do you think he specified the high voices to sing these words?
• What is the foundational thought in this passage?
• Why is it important to know God’s readiness teams up with the fact that He is our refuge and our strength?
• What does it mean to you for God to be ready to help you in your times of trouble? What might your trouble be at this very moment?

Ready to Forgive

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. (Psalm 86:5 NLT)

• God is ready to forgive. What else does He bring to our forgiveness party?
• What motivates His forgiveness?
• Have you asked for God’s help?
• Have you received His unfailing love? In what ways does that change how you view and do life?

Ready to Save

For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them. (Psalm 109:31 NLT)

• Where is God standing?
• In what way are you needy?
• What is God ready to do?
• Who condemns you? How does God as rescuer help you overcome this condemnation? (And don’t forget, sometimes, that condemnation comes from our worst enemy—ourselves.)

Ready to Heal

Think of it—the Lord is ready to heal me! I will sing his praises with instruments every day of my life in the Temple of the Lord. (Isaiah 38:20 NLT)

• I love how Isaiah exclaims this verse. What is He excited about?
• How does he celebrate the fact that the Lord is ready to heal him?
• How has God healed you? We often focus on the physical, but if that is important to God, think how much more important it is for Him to heal that part of you that goes to Heaven when you leave this earthly shell behind.
• What else needs healing in your life?

Ready to Respond / Ready to Be Found

The Lord says, “I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help. I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me. I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’ to a nation that did not call on my name. (Isaiah 65:1 NLT)

• What does it mean to you that people don’t ask God for help? That nations don’t call on His name?
• On a personal level, how do you want God to respond to your request for help?
• What does it do to your heart, to know He’s ready to be found? God loves the seeker!

Ready to Hear

This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock. (Ezekiel 36:37 NLT)

We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will. (John 9:31NLT)

• These two passages show us that God is ready to hear. What is He ready to hear?
• God is ready to hear prayers. Specifically, in this passage He was ready to hear Israel’s prayers and wanted to bless them. But we know He is ready to hear our prayers too. Knowing He’s waiting for a date with you, to talk with you, when will you meet up with Him next?
• Who does God like to listen to?
• How do you worship Him?
• How do you do God’s will?

STEPS: Receive and Live God’s Readiness

1. I will seek God more. He is ready to hear me.
2. I will praise God more. He is ready to heal me.
3. I will serve God more. He is ready to help me.

Copyright 2016 Kathy Carlton Willis. Used by permission.