Ready for Any Occasion — Living Fully Prepared to Serve God

“Our cattle also shall go with us; there shall not a hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither.”

— Exodus 10:26

Nothing Left Behind

When Moses told Pharaoh that “not a hoof” would be left behind, he revealed more than a refusal to compromise—he demonstrated complete readiness to serve God. The Israelites would take everything—family, possessions, and livestock—because they didn’t know what God might require of them.

That same principle applies to Christians today. Faithful service requires full devotion. We cannot hold anything back from God, because we never know when or how He may call us to act.

Learning from Esther

Few people embodied readiness like Esther. As queen of Persia, she faced a crisis when a decree was issued to destroy her people. Her uncle Mordecai’s words still echo across time:

“Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”— Esther 4:14

Esther risked her life to intercede for her people—and God used her courage to deliver Israel. Like Esther, we may find ourselves in unexpected situations, yet every circumstance is an opportunity to glorify God.

Recognizing the Spiritual Battle

Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:11–12 that we are at war—not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual forces of evil. Yet many believers forget this reality, becoming complacent in times of peace.

God calls us to stay alert and spiritually armed. Just as Roman soldiers trained daily to stay battle-ready, Christians must keep their spiritual weapons sharp through prayer, study, and faithful obedience.

Pray Without Ceasing

David wrote, “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17). His prayers sustained him through triumphs and failures alike.

The same command is given to us: “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer isn’t a ritual—it’s a relationship. It’s how we remain connected to our Commander in the spiritual war. Satan never takes a day off, so neither should our prayers.

Be Grounded in the Word

The Word of God is our sword and shield. Paul said, “Take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day” (Ephesians 6:13).

The Roman army’s downfall came when its soldiers stopped training. Likewise, Christians who neglect Bible study become spiritually weak. Scripture must be read, studied, and lived out daily. “Study to show thyself approved unto God” (2 Timothy 2:15) reminds us that knowledge without action is incomplete.

Our obedience speaks louder than words. As one Texas congregation discovered, it’s not what we say we believe that defines us—it’s what we actually do.

Use Your Talents for the Lord

Every member of the body of Christ has a role to play. Paul wrote, “But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him” (1 Corinthians 12:18). No one is useless in God’s kingdom.

Like the servant who buried his one talent, many waste opportunities to serve out of fear or comparison. But every gift—no matter how small—is essential to the work of the church. God owns everything, and He expects us to use what He has entrusted to us for His glory.

A Final Reflection

One anonymous poem captures a hard truth:

“He said he believes the Bible is the Word of God, but he never reads it. He said the church needs more dedicated members, but he isn’t one. He said God answers prayer, but he does not pray. He said the Lord is coming again, but he lives as if the world will never end.”

Faith without action leaves us unprepared. To be ready for any occasion means giving God everything—our time, talents, possessions, and hearts.

Don’t leave a hoof behind. Be ready for every occasion. Serve God with everything you have.