For we are what he has made us, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand to be our way of life.
(Ephesians 2.10
NRSV)
Of course some people confuse constant rehearsal with the real thing. Henry Nelson Wieman once told of his roommate in college. He had to have everything in readiness. He procured a large, comfortable chair. He got study slippers and a lounging jacket. He fastened a book rest to the arm of the chair to hold the book at the right angle before his eyes. He installed a special lamp and eyeshade, pencils, paper and revolving bookcase. He would come into the room after the evening meal, take off his coat and put on the jacket, take off his shoes and slip into the slippers, adjust the study lamp, put his book on the book rest, recline in the comfortable chair with his eyeshade over his eyes, and when everything was perfectly adjusted, he would go to sleep.
Preparation didn't do him a lot of good. Are you well prepared for serving in God’s kingdom?
Lord Jesus, prepare me for our Father’s glory. Amen.