When an athlete has 72 hours before the biggest competition of their life, they don’t spend those hours relaxing or being casual. Every moment becomes focused preparation. They eat right, they train with intensity, they visualize their performance, and they stay mentally sharp. They know that these final hours will determine whether they step into the arena prepared or unprepared.

In three days, God has called a meeting with you. This is not an event – this is your moment to encounter the Almighty. Just like that athlete, you have a few critical days to prepare, and prayer is your training ground. Prayer is not just something you do; it’s the posture of your heart that keeps you ready for all God wants to do.

This time is critical. You cannot afford to waste it in casual preparation.

Ephesians 5:15-16
New King James Version
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Paul tells us to redeem the time – literally, to buy back time. If you have been casual about prayer leading up to this meeting, now is the time to buy back what you have lost. These next three days are your opportunity to catch up, to position your heart, and to prepare for what God is about to do. You cannot redeem lost time through wishful thinking or good intentions. You redeem it through deliberate, intentional action. You must pray with urgency. You must press into God’s presence with purpose. You must use every available moment to prepare your heart for an encounter.

Don’t let these next 48 hours slip by in routine activities. Maximize them. Turn your drive time into prayer time. Use your lunch break to seek God. Let your conversations with others be seasoned with prayer for the meeting. Buy back the time you may have lost in casual preparation.

Look at how the disciples prepared for what God had promised them:

Acts 1:14
New King James Version
14 These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

Jesus had promised them the Holy Spirit, but they didn’t sit around waiting for it to just happen. They prayed. They prayed continuously. They prayed together. They prayed with expectation. The word “continued” is key here. They didn’t pray once and stop. They didn’t pray when they felt like it. They continued in prayer. When the Day of Pentecost came, they were ready because they had been preparing their hearts through prayer. This is what you must do for the next two days – continue in prayer. Let there be no pause. Let there be no break in your pursuit of God.

Your prayers before this meeting are not trying to convince God to show up – God has already called this meeting. Your prayers are preparing your heart to receive what He has already prepared to give. Prayer before the meeting raises your expectations and aligns your heart with God’s purposes.

The enemy knows what God has planned for you at this meeting. He will try to distract you, discourage you, and cause you to come unprepared. But you must stay prayed up. You must keep your spiritual defenses strong and your heart sensitive to God’s voice.

Daniel 9:1-3 
New King James Version
1 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans- 

2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. 

3 Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.

Daniel had understood through the scriptures what God had said concerning his people, so he “set his face toward the Lord.” This wasn’t casual prayer; this was determined, focused seeking of God. For the next three days, you must set your face toward the Lord because you know what God has promised will happen through this meeting. You must be determined in your pursuit of God. You must be focused on your preparation. Staying prayed up means maintaining a constant connection with God. It means turning every moment into an opportunity to seek His face. It means refusing to let anything steal your focus from what God is about to do.

When the meeting begins, don’t think that prayer becomes less important. Prayer during the meeting is what keeps you sensitive to everything God is doing. Between sessions, while others are talking about what they heard, you should be praying about what you’re going to receive.

Acts 10:44 
New King James Version
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word.

The Holy Spirit fell while Peter was still speaking. The supernatural happened in the middle of the teaching. You must stay prayed up during the meeting so you don’t miss what God is doing. You must maintain a posture of prayer throughout every session. Prayer between sessions keeps your heart tender and your spirit sensitive. It prevents the hardening that can come from hearing too much without processing deeply. It maintains the flow of God’s Spirit in your life from session to session. While others are relaxing, you should be pressing deeper. While others are distracted, you should be focused on God. Let there be no pause in your pursuit of Him.

For the next two days and throughout the meeting, there must be no pause in your prayer life. You cannot afford to take a break from seeking God. You cannot afford to become casual about this preparation.

Luke 18:1 
New King James Version
1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.

Jesus said men ought to always pray. Not sometimes. Not when they feel like it. Always. For these three days, you must adopt this mindset. You must pray always. You must seek God continuously. You must prepare your heart without ceasing.

This is not the time for laziness. This is not the time for casual approach. This is the time for urgent, fervent, continuous prayer. God has called this meeting, and you must come ready.

Starting right now, for the next 72 hours and throughout the meeting:

• Pray with urgency: Don’t wait for the perfect time or mood. Pray now. Pray often. Pray with purpose.
• Buy back lost time: Turn every available moment into prayer time. Use your commute, your break times, your quiet moments to seek God.
• Be expectant: Pray for your own heart to be prepared. Pray for the ministers. Pray for the other attendees. Pray for supernatural encounters.
• Don’t pause: Let there be no break in your pursuit of God. Continue in prayer without ceasing.

God is set to meet with you. These next few days determine whether you come prepared or unprepared. Make them count.

Prayer Point
Father, I refuse to waste these next 48 hours. I buy back any lost time through urgent, fervent prayer. I will stay prayed up and maintain a posture of expectancy. I will not let this opportunity pass me by.