This is just a collection of thoughts and notes that I have put into practice in my own life. Why? Well, as they say around here, because I’m po’ folk. I am just a guy in ministry (yeah, they make a lot of money…) I don’t have a bunker or cabin off somewhere, I don’t have solar panels powering my house, I don’t have a year’s supply of food, etc. I am not some survivalist wacko that is expecting everyone else to go bankrupt trying to be one, too. However, even though I live paycheck fume to paycheck fume just like everyone else (no full-time job here), I can still prepare myself. Notice that I am putting the emphasis on the individual. Someone can have a whole room full of foodstuffs and supplies and yet still be dumber than a box of rocks. Proverbs 13:23 reminds us, “Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.” This is why some countries and regions will be forever third-world countries or poor – in general, they lack judgment, organization, or education needed to make things work out. Usually this is because they know there is no need to – they have grown up expecting handouts. The emphasis of this article is that your personal preparation, education, and judgment will be your best preparation – and you can do a lot of that for free or next to nothing.

So, with that in mind, do not focus on necessarily comparing yourself to others. You know what your needs and circumstances may be, and you know what you need to be mentally and physically prepared  to meet. Set goals for yourself; at the end of this week or month, what do I want to have accomplished or advanced? What skills do I want to focus on?

STEP #1 – Pray for wisdom to make the best decisions and in the most efficient manner; and at the same time, pray for grace.

STEP #2 – Leave the results to God. The chances are pretty high that you or I will never have a cabin off in the woods somewhere, stocked with food and water against some unseen calamity. Soooo, don’t make that your goal. Your goal is to try to be the best steward of the opportunities that God has given you. Give God 100% of what He has given you. Prepare as though it depended on you, but pray as though it all depends on God. After that, leave the results to God. Leave it! Acknowledge to God that you cannot be the superman or woman that you might want to be, but let Him know that you will do your best, and that your dependence and rest is on Him.

Do I get freaked out that I don’t have all the beans and bullets that some might have? Well, I do strive to gain myself to further advances than where I am now, but I also have resigned myself to rest in God knowing that I will do all that I can with His help - beyond that would be pointless worrying. So, while I am always looking for ways to improve my personal preparations, I have committed to God the outcome.

The following are some various areas that we can all use in our personal preparation:

KNOWLEDGE
There is a saying that the more you can carry in your head, the less you will have to carry on your back.

Ecclesiastes 7:12 reminds us, “For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.”

Research the internet for basic skills that will be useful now and in a more austere time. Things such as knowledge of canning, pickling, dehydrating food, etc. These are beneficial because you can use them now, and will often help you save money in the long run. Know how to care for animals. Learn the basics of first aid, cpr, etc. Be able to sew and mend clothes, etc. Know how to clean clothes without a washer or dryer.

Go to the library and study books about wilderness camping and hiking. Not that you might be camping, but these type of books have a wealth of information about how to filter water, stay warm, prepare and preserve foods, etc.

In short, if you have no money to trade, or no goods to barter, equip yourself with what other people do not have that they will barter for. Many an ol’ country doctor was paid with eggs and food instead of money. If you can’t afford a pantry full of food, have a head full of knowledge. The added benefit is that people can’t steal it.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Let me start off this section by saying that I can still remember sitting on our front steps and young children eating spaghetti dinners that were given out in the neighborhoods to poor kids (inner-city Philadelphia). Several times during the summer I would walk my younger brothers down to the local school cafeteria for free lunches. We’ve also been on food stamps. Sometimes we just have to swallow our pride and save every nickel we can. Find out where the local food bank is and get to know your bent-and-dent stores.

INTERNET
Places like craigslist are great ways to find equipment, supplies, garden supplies, livestock, etc. Especially since many people are trying to sell things to make money, too. Often you can find great deals and firesales. These resources can help save money on certain things so that you have enough to buy other things.

BARTER
Have something just taking up room in your house or garage? Try to see if someone will want to trade for it. Craigslist has a whole section just for barter.

BARGAIN
Don’t be afraid to ask for a discount. The most they can say is no. I’ve gotten a number of discounts just for the asking. Usually when the cashier rings me up and asks if there is anything else I need I usually ask them if they have any discounts, promotionals, or freebies. Say it kinda in a funny, joking manner and sometimes you will win them over. If not, no loss. Usually the bigger or pricier and item is, the more lenient they will be in giving a discount, especially if it is something that you don’t have to have. Years ago, when I was at college, I bought an RC airplane and I got the guy to throw in a bunch of extras just by hemming and hawing at the checkout.

HEALTH
Keeping yourself in good health will save you much over the long term. Plus, when hard times come, you will be more able to meet the tasks required. If you need to, add a daily exercise regime to your schedule. This can be a simple series of stretches and aerobic workouts to keep the joints and such working better.

GLEAN
Find farmers in your area that will let you glean from their fields after harvests. This is what Ruth in the Bible did, and it worked out well for her. J Find out who in your area has a garden and compare notes; just knowing them sometimes may afford opportunities to trade foods or surpluses. Try to start a community garden. Find an older person who likes to garden but just needs a hand to help get it done and share.

BUY CHEAP
I buy foods from bread discount places, and almost keep the local bent-and-dents in business. Most of my wardrobe has either been given to me or purchased at flea markets and local missions. That doesn’t mean I look ragged or eat poorly, it just means I’m not spending money that I don’t need to (or have). Plus, with the money I save, I can more affordably buy treats, herbal medicine, and supplements.

TRIM THE FAT
One of the best ways to help your own personal preparation is to get rid of your television. Just cutting out an average of two hours of television per day per week will give you a whole extra waking day per week! You’ll be able to concentrate much better, and keep your mind focused on more important things, and less distracted.

THINGS TO AVOID
Stay away from survivalist and prepper websites that hammer the need to be stocked up to the gills. The deed may be worthwhile, but their hype usually sets false expectations and can be a discouragement. This includes alexjones.com. Every blue moon I might link to an article they have, but in general I stay away from them myself because of the hype.

Don’t worry about buying gold or silver. Get your food/water and raiment in order first. You can’t eat gold or silver, and nobody else can either.

Don’t worry about a generator because chances are you don’t have a 55-gallon tank of gas out in the backyard (which I wouldn’t recommend, anyway). Even then, the noise would attract a lot of attention. When I lived in the Florida panhandle during hurricane Ivan, a lot of generators were stolen. Easy to find. Unless you have specific medical equipment, then a generator is not on your list of priorities.

WHERE TO START?
Knowledge is the best investment. Since everyone’s situation is different, the needed knowledge is different also. Joseph needed to know about storing grain longterm, Noah needed to know about animals, boats and construction. Ruth knew how to take grain and make bread. Luke knew herbal remedies and alternative medicine. Most people in Bible times knew the basics of firemaking and cooking over a fire since they traveled so much. There is a wealth of simple knowledge that they knew that puts them over an advantage of many modern folk. You have heard the saying that knowledge is power, because it is true.

What about your circumstances? Well, one way to find out what your immediate needs may be is to turn off your circuit breaker and water and start seeing what your priorities may be. As we saw in the Haiti earthquake, all services were cut. However, even a wildfire, winter freeze, or tornado can cause the same problems in your area. A couple of days ago we had a winter freeze in the area (which is very rare for us here in central Alabama) and my water pipes froze. No water; no problem. I always have jugs of water stored away just in case we do lose water, whether its due to freeze, construction, or earthquake. Start examining what your immediate priorities would be during a loss of services, and get those squared away first.

Check out our Printables section of our website for our Prudent Living Checklist which has a basic overview of what every household should have on hand for emergencies.

Also, there is a Printable for a Limited Income Food Pantry.

In closing, I HIGHLY suggest that you read both of my articles entitled God’s Provision I & God's Provision II, which examines case-by-case various ways that God provided for people in Scripture, some of which were only knowledge.

Maranatha!
Daniel Valles