“But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it,” 1 Samuel 17:34-35 (NKJV).

The other morning in my spirit, I heard the words, “A Lion and a Bear”.

Immediately my attention was drawn towards David. We often think of David as a powerful King, but many times forget the time of preparation he had to undergo in the wilderness. Likewise today we observe many ministers and various ministries operating in a powerful dimension and anointing of the Holy Spirit but do not consider the private preparation that they went through before entering onto a public platform of ministry.

David was anointed three different times, but even before the first anointing, the Spirit of God came upon His life, as David spent many long hours seemingly isolated in the wilderness protecting the sheep. When the lions came, when the bears came, David’s responsibility was to rise up to the occasion and protect the sheep. No easy task! But what David did not realize, was that the hand of God was upon Him and was slowly but surely raising him up. When others saw nothing more than a shepherd boy, God saw a KING destined for greatness!

My beloved brothers and sisters, God not only sees what you are PRESENTLY, but He sees what you will BECOME according to His mighty POWER that is at work within you. But I sense many of you may be struggling in this present season. You have many questions for God. Why are things so difficult? When will things get easier? Why are there problems at every corner that I turn? The Word of the Lord to you is this: You are in a SEASON of PREPARATION!

The natural part of us loves to learn things the easy way. If we had it our way, we would walk into our divine destinies, comfortable, but unfit to be the mighty men and women of God He has called us to be. Yet God in His wisdom, knows exactly what circumstances each of us need to go through, in order to shape us for our calling and purpose in God.

But as much as we may know this intellectually, we often still fight against our present trials and troubles. Yet it is those very things that are preparing our way for promotion in the Lord. David remained faithful and there came the day the Lord sent the Prophet Samuel to anoint him. 1 Samuel 16:13 tells us, “Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward.”

My brothers and sisters, STAY FAITHFUL.

Continue to ENDURE! Don’t give up!

Keep FIGHTING against the LIONS, keep warring against the BEARS. EVEN when you don’t understand why you are going through what you are going through! You are being prepared by GOD!

These seasons of preparation are a necessity and essential to enter into the fullness of your callings! God is bringing His people to the next level! MORE of His SPIRIT, MORE of His POWER, GREATER Dimensions of His glory, to a GREATER experience of His presence!

But it does not come without seasons of preparation.

~ Kevin Stevens

Kevin Stevens is a Pastor, Evangelist, Revivalist, and Author out of Western N.Y. It is Kevin’s heart and passion to write prophetically under the unction of the Spirit of God. Kevin’s books “A Word for the Weary” and “Moving Mountains” are available now on Amazon.