Job 9:25-26 – My days are swifter than a runner; they flee away; they see no good. They go by like skiffs of reed, like an eagle swooping on the prey.
THEME OF THE DAY: LIVE IN THE PRESENT. Our lives may be lived, spiritually and mentally, in one of three places; our past, present, or future. Obviously, we physically are restricted to right now, but we may easily live spiritually and mentally with our minds and hearts in our past or future and miss all we have – the present.
I heard a song recently that was popular when I was a teenager. I remember it well. In listening, I was drawn back to those days long gone by. Good times and memories flooded my mind as well as those times and things I have no desire to recall or relive. We each have both in our past. There were times of happiness producing that “nostalgic” feeling within. And there are those regrets and remorse over bad decisions, tough times, situations, maybe relationships, we want forever erased from our memory banks. Our past is a powerful force in our minds and hearts.
Then we have our future. Those many dreams, goals, and aspirations we long to see become reality. They may actually direct the course of our lives in the present. That is okay to some extent, but be careful here. Plan, dream, even pursue future things of personal desire, yet do so loosely always remembering the words of the Psalmist, “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15). Fail to leave an open hand of submission to God with our future; fail to ensure all our future planning is rooted in seeking His Glory and when the Divine Hands of Sovereignty and Providence cross our plans, we will be disappointed and dangerously tempted to rebel and complain against the Lord.
As I mentioned in the opening of today’s nugget, our lives are physically restricted to living in the present. However, we may spiritually and mentally live in the past or future. Both types of thinking will prove to be spiritually disastrous. To allow our hearts and minds to wish for the past when times seemed better will cause us to miss spiritual opportunities and privileges today. And to live in a damaged past filled with regrets will lead to present despair. What about the future? To live always looking ahead to a better tomorrow, a different relationship, a change of scenery or environment will also cause us to miss the present. Future living is a huge spiritual danger. It creates a subtle, but real heart attitude of discontent. It lacks thanksgiving and gratitude for present situations. Most future type thinking is for “better things and times” which implies discontent in the present things and times. Remember, discontent is sin.
Friends, all we have is the present – physically, spiritually and mentally. We build a life of Christ-centered influence and ensure a Christ-centered legacy by living just today, this day, with spiritual zeal, divine purpose, and an eye on Christ’s glory and return. God has given us today and only today. The Christian does not mature in Christ one year at time, one month at a time or one week at a time. The Christian grows in Christ-likeness one day at a time and that day is today; only today. Life is short. To live in the past and future is to forfeit the present. Let’s not be duped to look back or ahead and miss out on the only time we have to grow in Christ and influence our families, churches, and communities for Him and that time is today.
PRAYER: “Father, help me to live my days with spiritual zeal, eternal purpose, and under the control of Your Spirit.”
QUOTE: “Don’t make the mistake of living in the past with regrets or dreams, or in a not promised tomorrow. Live fully for the Lord in the only time we have – the present.”