Prepared...

I love when things are prepared in advance. I'm a big believer in to-do lists, I use them everyday. Generally at the beginning of the week, I carve out some time on Sunday night or first thing Monday morning to look through my calendar and any late in the previous week or weekend emails and develop my to-do list for the week. Even on the busiest weeks, months or seasons, I take solace in knowing that my to-do list has prepared me for what's to come.

There's an often skipped over passage in the book of Matthew that's right up my alley when it comes to being prepared (it's lengthy and full of difficult to pronounce names, but be sure to read it in its entirety). 

Matthew 1:2-16 says, "Abraham was the father of Isaac. Isaac was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Judah and his brothers. Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (whose mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron. Hezron was the father of Ram. Ram was the father of Amminadab. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon. Nahshon was the father of Salmon. Salmon was the father of Boaz (whose mother was Rahab). Boaz was the father of Obed (whose mother was Ruth). Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon (whose mother was Bathsheba, the widow of Uriah). Solomon was the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam was the father of Abijah. Abijah was the father of Asa. Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was the father of Jehoram. Jehoram was the father of Uzziah. Uzziah was the father of Jotham. Jotham was the father of Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Hezekiah. Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh. Manasseh was the father of Amon. Amon was the father of Josiah. Josiah was the father of Jehoiachin and his brothers (born at the time of the exile to Babylon). After the Babylonian exile: Jehoiachin was the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel was the father of Zerubbabel. Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud. Abiud was the father of Eliakim. Eliakim was the father of Azor. Azor was the father of Zadok. Zadok was the father of Akim. Akim was the father of Eliud. Eliud was the father of Eleazar. Eleazar was the father of Matthan. Matthan was the father of Jacob. Jacob was the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary. Mary gave birth to Jesus, who is called the Messiah."

42 generations beforehand God placed saving humanity on His to do list in the form of Jesus Christ. He made a plan to restore humanity into right relationship with Himself. Things were set into motion long before you and I were even a twinkle in our mama's eye. Knowing that God had a plan for me long before I came into being is extraordinary to think about.

Allow me to encourage you to consider thinking through the concept that God has been passionately pursuing you since the beginning of your life. Think about the ways that God has revealed Himself to you over the years, think about the ways in which He has protected you, sustained you, saved you for Himself.

God is more than aware of who you are and what your needs are. Take heart and know He has planned not only for your existence but for your salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. Be encouraged and keep moving forward. 

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