For most people 2008 has not been an easy year.  The global weakened economy produced financial pressures on almost every one.  Many faced the fear of job cuts and some actually lost their jobs.  Increased food, gasoline and heating prices also added stress to most families. Some people lost their homes, some lost relationships due to death or divorce.   Each of these difficulties acts like stress tests and often reveal weaknesses in marriages and families.  Preparing our minds for action (1 Peter 1:13 NIV) is definitely needed if we are going to head into the new year with strong faith.

Preparing your mind for 2009.  Instructions for Prospering through Preparation.

1. Evaluation:   Take the time to examine how the pressures of life that you faced in 2008 affected your life.  What did the strain of these past few months reveal in your life personally?  Your family?  Your ministry?  Your job?  Did you find increased friction in your relationships?  We have no guarantee things will be “easier” in 2009, but we can prepare our mind for action so we can face the future with confidence, rather than fear. Remember, He is able.

Take the time to plan with your family.  Discuss how the changing financial situation has affected your specific finances.   This is not a time to cower in fear, but a time to muster your faith, your courage, along with God’s wisdom and strength to see this season as a time of adventure and learning.  Our country grew stronger after the Great Depression and you and your family can use this time as an opportunity to do the same.

Prepare your mind by seeing your family as a team who determines to believe God together to supply all your needs in Christ Jesus.  You may have to have a conversation concerning the difference between “wants” and “needs” which is a great lesson.  Pray together.  Ask God for wisdom in stretching your finances.  Look for creative ways to save or cut back on expenses.  Talk together about changes you each need to make.  Remember, He is able.

2.  Release your faith and pray.  No “woe is me” type prayers—pray in faith.  Pray for government leaders to have God’s wisdom in bringing solutions to every economic issue. Remember, He is able.

3. Keep on tithing and giving your offerings.  And as you do, actively use your faith as you sow into His Kingdom.
Do not let worry over take you.  Minister to your children as well.  Let them know you are trusting God.  Help them to develop their faith as well.  As you prepare your mind for 2009 meditate on Matthew 6: 25-34 “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?  28“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?  1“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God* above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 4“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

4. Do not forsake the assembling of the Saints. Hebrews 10:23-25 gives us great advice.  Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Remember it is not just what you receive from your church service or small group meeting, but it is the encouragement and insight that you give to others as well.  You may be some one’s life line! Remember, He is able.

5. Decide to serve the Lord with gladness in every aspect of your life-to cheerfully approach your position as wife, mother, and daughter.  To choose to work with a grateful and thankful heart the calling of God in your life as an employee or worker in the church will set your spirit free.  Remind yourself, He is able.

Finally:
When difficult times come, it is easy to lost sight of our Beloved Savior and what He has done for us.  Take advantage of communion times to re-set your heart and mind on Him and His purpose in and through your life.  Remind yourself of the truth found in Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

Remember, He is able.

A person who prepares their mind for action is a pro-active person.  They do not simply re-act to their environment, they change their environment.  Women of Faith arise.  Become the voice of Faith, the voice of Encouragement, the voice of Hope and the voice of Truth.  

Truly, you will discover the very truth of Romans 8:35-37 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:  “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Remember, He is able.