2 Timothy, Devo

Fourfold Readiness

Posted on by Vince Miller

Fourfold Readiness

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As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. — 2 Timothy 4:5

When I decide to take part in an athletic competition, I have to get ready. And usually, I prepare far in advance of the actual competition. So I prepare a dietary plan, a training plan, and an accountability plan to ready myself for the event. And I prepare because I want to compete at my very best. But preparations do not begin the day before the event. Preparation begins months in advance so that my body and mind are ready for the competition because I want to compete well and not embarrass myself.

In the same way, Paul wants Timothy to be spiritually ready. So he gives him a bit of a training checklist here because he cares about his success. He knows that his spiritual preparations will impact the salvation of people across the Roman empire. And thus, he gives him this fourfold charge. And it a great checklist for spiritual readiness.

So as you charge out into another day, here is Paul's spiritual readiness checklist posed in a question format for you:

  • Are you ready mentally?
  • Are you ready to endure suffering?
  • Are you ready to share Jesus?
  • Are you ready to do ministry?

If you are not ready in one of these four ways, then maybe you need to ready yourself right now! Take a couple of minutes in prayer to ready one of these four aspects and share it with me below, and I will commit to praying for you today. And then get out there today for another day of spiritual training.

ASK THIS: In what of the four ways are you not ready?

DO THIS: Take a couple of minutes to get ready right now (Share how you need to ready yourself today in the comments below.)

PRAY THIS: God, ready my mind, heart, mouth, and action for another day of focused training.

PLAY THIS: Build Your Kingdom Here.

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55 thoughts on “Fourfold Readiness”

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  6. Ronald L Webster says:

    Please pray for me I have a big court day tomorrow and need prayer that the judge will either dismiss the charges or make it so I can continue to go to life recovery and work on my life and the things that I need to change.

    Reply
  7. labellepaulm says:

    Todays devotional speaks loudly to me. The four bulleted check list of spiritual readiness are for me a hierarchy, starting with mental readiness. This is foundational and I feel that is where I’m lacking and in turn not as successful in the other areas. For me it has been picking the “low hanging fruit” and hanging my hat on that. I need to prepare my mental readiness better. Brothers, pray for me. >

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  8. Dennis James says:

    Mentally. I need to repent of sin and get my focus back on the mission. I stumbled yesterday and looked at something I had no business looking at.

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  9. Cory B says:

    Mentally. The last several days have been rough. Lack of focus, self control and my closeness with God have been weak.

    Reply
  10. Jason Taylor says:

    My mind is not mentally ready to share Jesus. My gifts are encouraging and serving so sharing the Gospel/Good News (Romans 3:10,12,23, I Cor 15:3-4, I Peter 3:18, Phil 1:27) in words with another person is a weakness of mine. I need to be sensitive & obedient to the initial promptings of the Holy Spirit when a rare opportunity presents itself to me. My prayer would be for the Holy Spirit to guide, speak to me and I would be sensitive to others.

    Reply
  13. Stephen Merkle says:

    Ready me mentally – all of the distractions of this world cause me to lose focus, even with renewing myself daily with time in the Word and devotions.

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  14. Alex Coon says:

    Keep my eyes to the sky

    Seek inspiration from scripture

    Put no lampshade on the light that is Jesus

    Remember my calling

    Reply
  16. Ryan says:

    Today is day 100 of separation from my wife (and much time lost with my kids). I have suffered immensely in this season and it’s been a true test. We’ve begun to date again and slowly the spark is returning. I need to remain strong mentally and give myself grace – just be fully surrendered to where God wants to lead me today.

    Reply
  17. Corey says:

    Just to be Bold for Jesus! In evangelizing, what do I have to lose!
    This may help someone but here is what I am learning. If I pray for those opportunities to come in a day, they will and Holy Ghost will open your eyes and direct me but I have to be willing. The cool thing is, He has already gone ahead and prepared the way,. He has prepared the heart your about to speak to, to receive! Its cool guys! Try it! There may not be a divine appointment every day or you may miss one here or there but stay focused and I assure you, the Holy Ghost will show you when its the correct time! Always be ready and on the look out! And sometimes he will show you well in advance, like maybe a month or more! Commit and then do it when the time comes. You won’t regret it!!!

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  18. SHELDON Bullard says:

    In the area of suffering, no one likes suffering or pain but i am aware that God does his greatest work in or with pain. Paul say when i am week then am i strong.

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  19. Gary Vosen says:

    I need prayer for mentally being prepared. I think of myself first, most often. Fear of being rejected by others. Not trusting that God has my back.

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    • Vince Miller says:

      Gary we will never reject you. You are always welcome here. Do not let Satan defeat you in this way. God has accepted you and there is nothing you can for him to stop loving you.

      Reply
  20. Eddie Ackerman says:

    I am working on correcting about two decades of bad habits, mostly laziness and accepting inactivity as my default settings for daily life. I need to prepare myself to endure suffering for these bad choices that need to be corrected so that I can be the man God wants me to be. As I type this, some of my muscles are already enduring suffering from exercise, but I need to lean into the exercises, not shy away from them, despite the initial painful physical reaction from my body.

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  22. Greg says:

    My biggest area of weakness is my own self- pity. I have been forgiven in Christ, but struggle to accept that, and foolishly feel I must serve some kind of ridiculous penance. Help me Lord, to accept Your love fully, then carry that forward to everyone I come into contact with.

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    • Vince Miller says:

      Reject self-pity. It is not of the Lord. It is a voice of the Devil and a manifestation of pride (just from the other direction) It will say you are not good enough while pride says I am too good. In the end, both reject God’s goodness. And based on God’s Word — you are redeemed, loved, and adopted by him. Reject the pity and live!

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  23. Sam says:

    Definitely “mentally” I need preparation in four but mentally I am lacking.
    Thank you in advance for your prayers.

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  24. John Krumm says:

    It is teaching like this that shows me how far I have slipped, little by little into apathy and self-existence. All about me, my thoughts and prayers and actions. Me, me, me. So gang, my confession is all of the above. 1 through 4. Help me Holy spirit to take one step, then another, then another, to be ALL in. In Jesus I pray.

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  25. Walter says:

    Mentally, this has always been the hardest for me. My mind seems to lose focus even when I know better.
    Thank you for your prayers.

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