From a young age, we’re sent to school to study for tests. When exam schedules are released, we quickly start preparing, revisiting subjects we may have neglected over the semester. Just like school exams, life will present its own set of challenges and tests. What truly matters is how well we have prepared ourselves over the years.

If we can spend four or more years in school, enduring various challenges just to earn a certificate, isn’t it even more important to prepare ourselves for the tests life will throw at us?

Have you ever thought about where you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? What do you envision for your spiritual life, your financial situation, your relationships, and your health? What challenges might you face, and how are you preparing for them?

One key way to prepare is by gaining knowledge and understanding. As it says in 2 Peter 1:2, “May grace and peace be yours in abundance through the full knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” This means that by learning and growing in our knowledge, we receive the grace needed to handle life’s challenges.

What are you reading? What are you listening to? Are these sources helping you prepare for your future, or are they just keeping you stuck in the same place?

Many people have faced the struggles you are going through and have written about how they overcame them. Their experiences can provide valuable insights and guidance for your journey. Make reading a habit, and you’ll find it’s a worthwhile investment in your future.

The Power of Knowledge, Prayer, and Confession

Reading the Scriptures allows us to hear God’s voice, while prayer provides us the chance to speak back to Him. We have certain responsibilities, but there are also aspects of life that God will handle and arrange for us. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit as our helper. A helper can only assist when we are actively doing something ourselves, and we are also told that the Holy Spirit will remind us of Jesus’ teachings. If we don’t take the time to learn and understand what Jesus has said, the Holy Spirit won’t have anything to remind us of. You can’t give what you don’t have, especially when life demands it from you.

Gaining knowledge is the first step in preparing for life’s challenges. Prayer is another crucial part of this preparation. James 4:2-3 says, “You desire but do not have. You kill and covet, but you cannot get what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” This passage reminds us that we often overlook things that only God can do and mistakenly think that blessings will come to us passively, without asking. It doesn’t work that way. God often waits for us to invite Him into our situations. There are things we need to learn and handle on our own, and other things where we need to seek God’s help.

Confession is another important aspect of preparing for the future. The Bible tells us that God calls things that are not as though they were. We can also operate with God’s faith by believing and speaking into existence things that may not yet be visible. Our words are powerful. The Bible says, “The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain” (Proverbs 10:11). It also teaches that “Life and death are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). What we say can significantly impact our lives. Confession begins with how we see ourselves and our thoughts about life. “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). Our words reflect our thoughts and beliefs. Therefore, your confessions will only be as strong as your mindset. This is why acquiring the right knowledge is crucial—it changes your mindset and helps you speak the right words into your future.

As you go through today, remember that both prayer and confession are essential tools for preparing for life’s tests and challenges.