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I have been greatly challenged over the past week by our dear and suffering Hannah. She has been such a sweet and wonderful blessing to my family, especially my kids. Yet, as I went to visit her in the hospital I felt so unprepared to minister to her and her family. Indeed, I am young and inexperienced as a pastor beyond teaching the Bible. While I am confident in my teaching gifts, I am suddenly aware of my inadequacy as a minister to those who are suffering. What am I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do? It was then I realized that I was not prepared for such a high calling as this, because I had not prepared my spirit. I feed my body and my flesh, but how often does my spirit go unfed and neglected... I now perceived, more often than I would like to confess here; and I was personally reminded by the Holy Spirit how we are to "be diligent to present [ourselves] approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed" (2 Timothy 2:15).

I remember how Jesus exhorted His disciples who were impotent in the face of the enemy, when they failed to excorcise a young man of demonic possesion; and how he told them that this kind of enemy can only be defeated through prayer and fasting. This shows us how important it is to be ready in season and out of season, to be continually filled and preoccupied with the Holy Spirit, that we might be ready to face the enemy in the Name and power of Jesus Christ, who IN us is the Hope of Glory! I need to be in steady and constant communion with the Lord that I may be ready at a moments notice to minister His grace to those who are in need, or like Hannah, suffering in the hospital.

The Apostle Paul said that "if anyone cleanses himself... he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:21-22) Let us be admonished to cleanse ourselves once again, and to be refitted, as it were, for the armor of God, that we might be useful to the Master, and helpful to those like Hannah. Otherwise, if we are caught up with the things of this world, Jesus and his power will become strangely dim, and we will be of no consequence in the spiritual battles that rage around us. May we rather look fully into the face of Jesus, walking daily close by his side, that the things of earth would lose their hold on us, and become completely dull and dim to us. We never know when we will be called upon to minister God's grace... so we must endeavor always to be ready!