Getting Ready

Right now, there are about 500 women in North America frantically getting prepared for the She Speaks Conference. I am one of them. Because of God's great provision, four women from our women's ministry team are able to attend and learn from the experiences and teaching of the Proverbs 31 Ministries team.

For many of us, preparations include getting our hair cut and coloured, trying on countless outfits, and the like. I don't know what it is, but us women usually do more to get ready for a date with other women than we do for dates with our men! This is me. Tonight is chalk full of 'primping' appointments.

Others are also clicking away on their computers in efforts to complete book proposals or practice talks. For many hopefuls, this is our 'one shot' at getting our ideas and our abilities reviewed (and maybe even accepted). Again, this is me. These last few days are packed with plans to write and re-write, making last-minute revisions and memorizing talks.

Virtually all of us are trying to get our homes ready for our absence. Cleaning to be done, meals to be planned (maybe even prepared and frozen), schedules to be written out, notes to be left. Yes, this too, is me. Maybe. If I find time. Otherwise, they are on their own and I expect that McDonald's and Pizza 73 will be getting a lot of business over the next weekend.

I find myself stopping, though, in the midst of all these preparations. I hear a still, small voice whisper to my soul, Spend time with Me. No matter what you do to prepare, you will never be ready for all I have for you at She Speaks if you are not with Me. And oh, how I need Him by my side! Each time I hear that whisper I stop, and in the words of Moses I tell Him, I cannot go without Your Presence, Lord! I will not move from this spot unless I know You are with me! (Exodus 33:15)

I believe that, in so many ways, this conference will be life-changing, ministry-reviving, heart-refining, utterly amazing. But without Him, it will merely be a good experience. I've had too many God experiences to be willing to settle for a good experience. And God experiences don't happen by accident, they happen with intentionality - by seeking HIM (and not being focused on things like good hair, meetings with influential people, etc.).

Lord, help me to keep my eyes focused on You. Still my excited mind, so that it will pay attention to You. Though my hands are busy with getting pre-pared, may my heart stay attuned to being pre-prayered.

Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me. For You are God my Saviour and my hope is in You all day long. ~Psalm 25:4-5

Is there something you are getting ready for, working on, or hopeful about that is taking up space in your heart and mind? Are you doing what you really need to be doing to be prepared - are you pre-prayered?

Now, if you're wondering whether I will be cancelling my hair appointment this evening after writing this post, the answer is no! Are you kidding? I cannot go to a conference with 500 other women with bad roots! BUT, I have promised God and myself, and I promise you - I will spend the same amount of time in communion with Him that I spend in conversation with my stylist. Fair enough? :)