Key Verse: “A horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory comes from the Lord.” (Proverbs 21:31 CSB)
Abraham Lincoln was once quoted as saying, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” His point? Preparation is as important as the act itself. This is true in pretty much every area of our lives. Whether you’re going to war or simply going grocery shopping, a little time spent preparing goes a long way.
It is also true in the Christian life, as we seek to follow Jesus. Time spent preparing and making ourselves ready is crucial in ensuring we are successful in the battles we will face every single day.
In Proverbs 21:31, Solomon reminds us of the importance of being prepared. Part of getting ready to go to war was ensuring that the horses were prepared for battle. They needed to be properly armed and made ready in order to ensure success against the enemy.
So what does it mean for us to be prepared? How do we ensure that we are ready for the day of battle? Most often our preparation in the Christian life is the time we spend alone on our knees before God in prayer and with our Bibles open meditating on and renewing our minds in His truth.
The Apostle Peter reminds us as well that one of the most important areas of preparation is our mind. “Therefore, with your minds ready for action,” he wrote, “be sober-minded and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). Part of getting ready for the battle is ensuring that we are setting our minds on the things of God (Colossians 3:2), and renewing our minds each day with His truth (Romans 12:2).
Knowing that the battles we face each day are ultimately spiritual ones, the Apostle Paul tells us, “For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything to take your stand” (Ephesians 6:13). Our enemy is real and powerful, so we need to be ready.
As important as our preparation is for the day of battle, Solomon also reminds us of a critical truth: “Victory comes from the Lord.” If our confidence in the battle is found in our level of personal preparation, then ultimately our confidence is misplaced. At the end of the day, no matter how “ready” we think we may be, we don’t have the strength or the power on our own to stand firm and to achieve victory. When we try to do it on our own, we will ultimately fail.
But as we surrender to the mighty hand of God and His immeasurable power and strength at work in our lives through the Holy Spirit, we are assured victory. He is the one who goes before us so that we stand triumphant in Christ Jesus.
David wrote, “Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with mighty victories from his right hand. Some take pride in chariots, and others in horses, but we take pride in the name of the Lord our God” (Psalm 20:6-7).
Mighty victories await us today. So ensure that you are prepared for the day of battle, and remember that victory comes from the Lord. Put your confidence and hope in Him alone!
Prayer: God, I know that today there will be battles that I will face as I seek to follow you. I want to stand firm and be victorious. Help me to prepare myself properly so that I can stand firm. Ultimately, my confidence is in you today. I stand on your truth that victory comes from the Lord! Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
