Lord, Prepare Me for What I’m Praying For

We Christians are good at praying. We bow our heads, close our eyes, and pour our hearts out to God. We pray for blessings, breakthroughs, healing, opportunities, open doors, reconciled relationships, financial provision, and revival in our nation. And praise God for that! Prayer is essential. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: most of us pray far more than we prepare.

We say, “Lord, send me a spouse,” but we don’t prepare our hearts to love sacrificially. We pray, “Lord, bless me financially,” but we can’t even manage the little resources He’s already entrusted to us. We plead, “Lord, expand my influence,” but we refuse to discipline our character, our integrity, and our daily walk with Him.

This is why James 2:17 cuts so deep: “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” Prayer without preparation is dead faith. And dead faith doesn’t move mountains—it just sounds religious.

Why Would God Answer?

Let’s get real for a second. Why would God bless us with what we’re praying for if we haven’t made ourselves ready to receive it? Why would He pour out blessings if those blessings would crush us under the weight of our own unpreparedness?

Think about it:

• If you’re asking God for financial freedom, but you keep overspending and ignoring biblical stewardship, wouldn’t more money just accelerate your problems?
• If you’re asking God to restore your marriage, but you’re still clinging to pride, bitterness, or unconfessed sin, how could true reconciliation take root?
• If you’re asking God for a bigger platform, but you haven’t cultivated humility and obedience, wouldn’t that platform become an idol and eventually destroy you?

This may sound controversial, but here’s the truth: If you’re not preparing, maybe you don’t really believe God is going to do what you’re asking. Because true faith doesn’t just pray—it prepares.

Preparation as Worship

Preparation is not just practical; it’s deeply spiritual. It’s an act of worship. It’s saying to God, “I believe You are who You say You are, and I believe You will do what You’ve promised, so I’m getting ready now.”

When Noah built the ark, it had never rained. People thought he was insane. But building that ark was an act of worship—it was faith in motion. When David picked up those five smooth stones, that was preparation. He didn’t just walk into the valley empty-handed and expect God to magically do the rest. He acted in expectation of God’s power.

Our preparation is proof that we actually believe what we’re praying for. If you’re praying for God to use you in ministry, start studying the Word with greater depth. If you’re praying for business opportunities, start sharpening your leadership and integrity. If you’re praying for revival, start fasting, gathering believers, and interceding with urgency.

Preparation reveals the size of your faith. Small preparation equals small faith. Bold preparation equals bold faith.

A Personal Conviction

Let me get vulnerable here: I’ve been guilty of praying without preparing. I’ve prayed for God to expand the reach of C-Suite for Christ, to grow our chapters, to touch lives across the globe. But then I’ve had to ask myself: Am I truly ready to carry that expansion? 

Am I personally in the Word daily? Am I guarding my family and my marriage so that growth doesn’t become an idol? Am I surrounding myself with the right leaders who can carry the load alongside me?

God convicted me. Expansion isn’t just about more people, more influence, or more recognition. Expansion is about more responsibility, more temptation, more spiritual warfare. If I pray for it, I must prepare for it. Otherwise, I’m asking God to hand me something that could crush me.

Faith in Action

So here’s the challenge: Don’t just pray—prepare. Don’t just ask—act. Don’t just hope—hustle in obedience. Every prayer should be followed by a step of preparation:

• Praying for God to use you more powerfully? Then dig deeper into His Word today.
• Praying for financial blessing? Create a budget and live within it.
• Praying for stronger relationships? Start by humbling yourself and asking forgiveness.
• Praying for revival? Get on your knees daily and invite others to join you.

Prayer is the spark, but preparation is the woodpile. Without both, the fire won’t burn.

The Controversial Truth

Let me leave you with this bold, perhaps controversial, statement: If you’re not preparing for what you’re praying for, you might not actually believe God will answer. Preparation is the proof of faith. Without it, our prayers are little more than wishful thinking.

May we be people of both prayer and preparation. People of faith and works. People who not only cry out to God but also live in expectation of His mighty hand.

And may we all pray this dangerous but beautiful prayer: “Lord, prepare me for what I’m praying for. Shape me. Refine me. Stretch me. And when You move—and I know You will—may I be found ready.”

In Christ,

Paul M. Neuberger

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

C-Suite for Christ

pneuberger@csuiteforchrist.com 

“But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than men.’” — Acts 5:29 (ESV)

In a culture that increasingly celebrates sin and punishes conviction, one man’s quiet stand in the world of professional sports reminds us all that God is still on the move—and He’s using bold believers to shine His light in dark places.

This month’s story comes from the heart of Major League Baseball. We are highlighting the powerful and courageous act of Clayton Kershaw, the legendary pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers. At a time when nearly every professional sports league is bending the knee to secular ideologies, Kershaw made a bold yet respectful stand for Christ—right in the midst of Pride Night.

In June, the Dodgers announced they would honor the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”—a group that openly mocks Jesus Christ, nuns, and the Catholic faith—as community heroes during their Pride Night celebration. This announcement triggered nationwide backlash, especially from the faith community.

But Kershaw, a devout Christian and the face of the Dodgers franchise for over a decade, didn’t just voice concern. He took action. Instead of publicly railing against the organization, Kershaw worked behind the scenes. He advocated for the reinstatement and expansion of the Dodgers’ Christian Faith and Family Day, a longtime tradition that had quietly disappeared from the calendar.

Then, in a stunning visual seen by millions, Kershaw took the field during Pride Night wearing a custom hat featuring a Bible verse—Genesis 9:12-16: 

“¹² And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵ I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”

This act may have seemed small to some. But in today’s cultural climate—where even whispering a traditional Christian viewpoint can lead to cancellation—it was a massive act of faith-fueled resistance. Kershaw didn’t cave. He didn’t go silent. He used his influence not to glorify himself, but to glorify God. And he did it with conviction, humility, and integrity.

In this era of compromised values, cultural pressure, and corporate cowardice, we need more leaders like Clayton Kershaw. As Christian executives and professionals, we often face similar moments—perhaps not on a nationally televised stage, but in boardrooms, hiring decisions, marketing campaigns, or HR policies. The choice to remain silent or speak up is ever-present.

Kershaw’s stand is a shining example that you can honor Christ boldly without being obnoxious, you can live your convictions publicly without burning bridges, and you can turn cultural compromise into spiritual opportunity—if you’re willing to act.

He didn’t boycott the team. He didn’t blast management. He didn’t spew hate. He redirected the conversation to Jesus and led by example. Kershaw’s courage aligns perfectly with what we stand for. 

At C-Suite for Christ, our mission is clear: Cover the world in Christ. That means we don’t just believe privately—we lead publicly. We don’t just attend church on Sundays—we bring Jesus into the workplace Monday through Friday. We don’t just talk about God—we honor Him in action, even when it costs us something.

Like Kershaw, we’re in positions of influence. Like Kershaw, our choices affect others. Like Kershaw, our witness matters. In this story, God is not only on the move through a faithful man—He’s also on the move in a very dark and secular arena. 

When you see headlines dominated by division, sin, and anti-Christian sentiment, remember: God is not silent. He’s raising up Daniels in Babylon. He’s empowering Esthers in the palace. He’s placing Josephs in Pharaoh’s court.

And He’s calling you to stand, too.

We must stop compartmentalizing our faith. We must stop bowing to fear. We must stop apologizing for the Gospel. The story of Clayton Kershaw should challenge all of us to ask: Where is God calling me to take a stand?

Here’s what we’re asking you to do as a member of the C-Suite for Christ movement:

1. Wear Your Faith – Literally and figuratively. Whether it’s gear from our SWAG Store, a Bible on your desk, or a Scripture on your LinkedIn profile—let people know whose you are.
2. Speak Boldly – When your company promotes something unbiblical, speak the truth in love. Offer alternatives. Share your convictions. Redirect the conversation toward Christ, like Kershaw did.
3. Lead with Integrity – Make decisions that honor God, even if they cost you. It’s not about popularity. It’s about obedience.
4. Share This Story – Talk about what Kershaw did. Share this article. Use it as a springboard for conversation with your team, your peers, your family. Let it stir hearts and open doors.
5. Pray for Courage – None of this is easy. But through Christ, we have the strength. Ask God to embolden you to live out Acts 5:29 in your daily life.

Yes, God is on the move. But He’s not just moving through celebrities and athletes.

He’s moving through you. So, as you head into your meetings, your emails, your conference calls this week, remember the hat Kershaw wore. 

Remember this verse:

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” — Philippians 4:13

You can stand. You can lead. You can shine.

And you can help cover the world in Christ.

Let’s go!

Paul M. Neuberger

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

C-Suite for Christ

pneuberger@csuiteforchrist.com