What daily practices ensure we are spiritually prepared for Christ's coming?

Seeing the Urgency in Matthew 24:41

“Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left.”

Jesus pictures two ordinary people in the same place, doing the same task—yet only one is ready when He returns. Preparedness, then, is cultivated in the ordinary rhythms of life.

---

Daily Practices That Keep Us Spiritually Ready

• Stay Awake in the Word

– Read and meditate on Scripture every day (Psalm 1:2; Joshua 1:8).

– Let the Word expose sin and correct course quickly (Hebrews 4:12).

– Memorize key promises about Christ’s return (John 14:1-3; Revelation 22:20).

• Pray with Watchfulness

– Keep short accounts with God: confession, thanksgiving, petitions (1 John 1:9; Philippians 4:6-7).

– Intercede for others to come to repentance before the day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:9).

– Ask the Spirit to keep your heart tender and alert (Ephesians 6:18).

• Practice Immediate Obedience

– Act on what the Spirit highlights—do not delay (James 1:22).

– Cultivate habits of truthfulness, integrity, and purity (Ephesians 4:25-32; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).

• Live with Holy Urgency

– Evaluate time, money, and energy by eternal values (Matthew 6:19-21).

– Simplify where distractions pull you off mission (Hebrews 12:1-2).

• Walk in Love and Forgiveness

– Keep relationships clear; forgive as Christ forgave you (Colossians 3:13).

– Serve others practically, reflecting the Master you await (Matthew 25:34-40).

• Engage in Gospel Witness

– Speak of Christ whenever doors open (2 Corinthians 5:20).

– Support global missions; pray for workers in the harvest (Matthew 9:37-38).

---

Scripture Connections That Reinforce Readiness

• Matthew 24:42: “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.”

• 1 Thessalonians 5:6: “So then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain awake and sober.”

• 2 Peter 3:11-12: “What kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God…”

• Revelation 3:2-3: “Wake up…If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief.”

---

Putting It All Together

Read the Word, pray, obey, pursue holiness, love deeply, and share the gospel—daily, deliberately, and dependently. These practices keep the heart soft, the conscience clear, and the lamp trimmed, so when Christ appears, we will be the ones taken, not left.