Get Your Go-Bag: Spiritual Preparedness for God's Call

"But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, 'Get up and go south to the road that descends from Jerusalem to Gaza.' (This is a desert road.) So he got ready and went." — Acts 8:26-27

My wife and I are preparing for our first child this year, and one thing I've learned is the importance of the "go bag." My baby is not due for half of a year, but my wife has taught me you can never be too prepared. We don't know exactly when we'll need it or how everything will unfold, but we know this: when the moment comes, we need to be ready to go. The last thing we want is to be scrambling through drawers and closets when it's time to head to the hospital.

That go bag represents more than preparation—it represents trust. We're getting ready for something we can't fully predict or control, but we know it's going to be life-changing.

Philip's Response Shows Spiritual Preparedness

Philip's response to God reminds me of that "go-bag" mentality. He didn't ask for a detailed itinerary or demand to know the purpose before He obeyed. He simply got up and went. No hesitation. No negotiation. Just immediate obedience.

Think about what God was asking. "Go south to the desert road." That's it. No explanation of why. No preview of what would happen there. Just a destination and a direction.

Most of us would want more information. We'd want to know if the trip was worth it, if we'd be safe, if it would make a difference. But Philip trusted that when God gives an instruction, He has a purpose—even if we can't see it yet.

When Obedience Meets Divine Appointment

When Philip arrived at that desert road, he encountered an Ethiopian official reading from the prophet Isaiah but unable to understand it. "Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told Him the good news about Jesus" (Acts 8:35).

That conversation led to the official's baptism and carried the gospel into Africa. One act of simple obedience created ripples that spread across a continent.

Here's what strikes me: if Philip had delayed, questioned, or ignored God's prompting, that Ethiopian official might have returned home still searching, still confused about the Scriptures. Philip's readiness made him available for a divine appointment he knew nothing about.

God still works this way. He prompts us to make a phone call, write an email, stop and talk to someone, or show up somewhere unexpected. The instructions can seem random or unclear. But He's positioning us for encounters we can't predict—moments where our obedience becomes the answer to someone else's prayer.

"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Being ready for God means staying spiritually alert, keeping our hearts responsive, and trusting that He sees what we cannot. The question isn't whether God will call us. He will. The question is whether we'll be like Philip—ready to move when He does, even without knowing the full story.

Our obedience in the small, unclear moments often leads to the most significant outcomes. Developing spiritual preparedness positions us to respond when God calls, even when the path seems uncertain.

Daily Practice: Set aside two minutes today to pray this simple prayer: "Lord, I'm ready. Show me where You want me to go, who You want me to talk to, or what You want me to do today."

Always improve the present moment.