The standard definition of preparation is, “The action or process of making something ready for use or service, or getting ready for some occasion, test, or duty.” It is characterised by focusing on external arrangement, usually has a clear endpoint, typically task-oriented, based on human effort and planning and it is measured by visible results.Let us distinguish this from the spiritual definition of preparation, which is “The continuous process of being shaped and refined by God to become a vessel fit for His purposes.”Its characteristics are:

• Focuses on internal transformation
• Ongoing, lifelong process 
• Character-oriented - The closer we walk with God, the more we are changed to be like Him
• Partnership between divine work and human submission
• Measured by spiritual maturity and usefulness to God

Jesus highlighted the importance of preparation in Luke 14:28-30:“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.” (Luke 14:28-30, NIV)

‘But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you. They would say, ‘There’s the person who started that building and couldn’t afford to finish it!’” (Luke 14:28-30, NLT)

Estimate the cost. Jesus did not want a blind, naive commitment that expected only blessings. As a builder estimates costs or a king evaluates military strength (v. 31), so people must consider what Jesus expects of his followers before they commit their lives to him. What is this cost? It is total and complete surrender to Him.We need to get the context right here. This statement is not aimed at unbelievers. Rather, it is aimed at followers of Jesus. Jesus is not saying here that those who don’t know Him should count the cost before accepting Him, He is telling us as believers that in order to function effectively as His disciples, we need to be well prepared.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 highlights what spiritual preparation involves. “In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.” (NLT)

• Purification ("those who cleanse themselves") - Unlike worldly preparation, spiritual preparation begins with allowing God to cleanse our hearts and minds
• Consecration ("made holy") - Setting ourselves apart for God's use, which goes beyond mere readiness
• Utility ("useful to the Master") - Being shaped to serve God's purposes, not just our own goals
• Readiness ("prepared to do any good work") - Making ourselves availability to God.

This spiritual understanding of preparation shifts the focus from what we do, to who we become. Worldly preparation might focus on acquiring skills or resources, spiritual preparation emphasises character transformation and alignment with God's purposes.

Preparing Spiritually – Seeking God First

As believers, preparing comes with seeking God first. (Matthew 6:33) What this scripture highlights is that seeking God should be our highest priority. We cannot prepare for what God has in store for us if we don’t seek him. What does it really mean to seek God first? It means to put God first in our lives, to fill our thoughts with His desires, to use His character as our life’s pattern and to keep on implementing His kingdom values here on earth. Seeking God is not passive, but rather it requires actively giving God first place in every aspect of our lives. Jesus promises us that if we do, all those things that we spend our time worrying about, will be sorted out by God. 

What are the practical ways to actively seek God first in our spiritual preparation?

Prayer: It goes without saying that one of the most potent weapons of the Christian is prayer. It is out direct line of communication with God, allowing us to align our hearts to His will. Most churches struggle with attendance at prayer meetings. I believe that it is because the enemy know that if God’s people come together to pray, it is bad news for him and the powers of darkness. Individually, we need to pick up our weapon of prayer and sharpen it but as a congregation, we need to put our considerable arsenal of prayer together and wage war against the enemy. This is a challenge to you and I for 2025. Are we ready to take up that challenge?

• Immerse Yourself in God’s Word: The Bible provides guidance, encouragement, and correction for spiritual growth. Psalms 119:105. 
• Cultivate Worship As a Lifestyle: Worship shifts our focus from ourselves to God, strengthening our relationship with Him

Preparing Mentally – Renewing Your Mind

We live in a world where so much is out out there to influence the way we think or act. Society is evolving at a very fast rate and this has significant on societal and cultural values. Unless we renew our minds on a regularly basis, we will get caught up in the ever-shifting changes of the world around us. This was why Paul instructed in Romans 12:2.  “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”. He also admonishes the church in Philipi, “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8)As a young Christian, I got caught up in the power of positive thinking. While that is not a bad thing in the secular sense, I soon found out that spiritually, it wasn’t enough. What is positive in the world is relative. There are some things that are acceptable norm in the west that are seen as unacceptable in other places like Africa for instance. I discovered that the  way to mentally prepare as a Christian is to align my thought life with God’s word and His character because wherever you go, the truth of His word is constant and never changes.

Preparing mentally as a believer involved intentionally replacing worldly mindsets with biblical perspectives and allowing the Holy Spirit to transform how we think, process and perceive.

Preparing Practically – Taking Steps of Faith

James 2:14-17 tells us faith without works is dead. Faith bridges the gap between spiritual and mental preparation with tangible action manifested in practical steps. Faith is not passive, it is active and engaging.  It shows that while we trust God completely, we also take responsible steps to prepare for what He's called us to do. Like David, who practiced with his sling long before facing Goliath, our practical preparation positions us for divine opportunities. 

Proverbs 16:1 states, “We can make our own plans but the Lord gives the right answer” Also, in verse 9 of that same chapter we read, “We can make plans, but the Lord determines our steps”. The question here is, if God determines the final outcome, what is the point of making plans? The answer lies in scripture itself, “the Lord determines our steps”. God gives us the free will to plan and work out the details because he wants us to partner with Him to bring about the outcome that He has already determined. It helps to focus when we can ask the question, “Is this plan in harmony with God’s truth? Is my attitude and the way I am going about this pleasing to God? These questions help us reposition ourselves to His will and ultimately bring glory to His Name.

Practical Steps to preparing practically

• Setting clear, faith-driven goals for spiritual growth, relationships, career, and ministry.
• Developing discipline and consistency in small, intentional actions.
• Noah built the ark before the flood came (Genesis 6:14-22).
• Planning with divine guidance (Proverbs 16:9)

True preparation is more than just making external arrangements—it is a holistic process that involves spiritual, mental, and practical readiness. While worldly preparation focuses on tasks and measurable outcomes, spiritual preparation is about being transformed into vessels fit for God’s purposes. It requires seeking Him first, renewing our minds, and taking steps of faith in alignment with His will.

As believers, we are called to prepare diligently, not just for the challenges of life but for the greater purpose God has set before us. Just as Jesus emphasised counting the cost before building, we must be intentional about our spiritual growth and readiness. This means prioritising prayer, immersing ourselves in God’s Word, embracing a mindset shaped by truth, and actively stepping out in faith.

Preparation is not a one-time event but a continuous journey of walking with God, being refined, and positioning ourselves to be used by Him. As we progress through the year 2025, let us commit to preparing with purpose—so that when God calls, we are ready to respond.