Yesterday's Monday musings went with me for hours as two difficult doctor's appointments seemed urgent. Joy seemed to keep slipping out of my hand.
THOTS--Trusting Him On This Subject---seem more like ramblings.
Read at your own risk of not understanding.
One of the great challenges of life is just the simple task of living in the moment, this very moment. Living a “present tense life".
Why is this so hard for me. I can teach it.......but when it comes to living it out, I really struggle!
To be enthralled with life moments like Goldie(7) and Jack (8)!
Ah-h-h-h...to experience that once again.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.(Matthew 6:33, KJV)
There are two great enemies of a walk with God that try to keep us from walking with God in the “now.” One is “the fantasy of what could have been,” and the other is “the fear of what might be.” Let me address each one of these for a moment. One of the great challenges of life is just the simple task of living in this moment, living a “present tense life.” There are two great enemies of a walk with God that try to keep us from walking with God in the “now.” One is “the fantasy of what could have been,” and the other is “the fear of what might be.” Let me address each one of these for a moment.
Matthew 6:30-33 The Message (MSG)
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. (Emphasis mine)
There are two great enemies of a walk with God that try to keep us from walking with God in the “now.” One is “the fantasy of what could have been,” and the other is “the fear of what might be.” Let me address each one of these for a moment. One of the great challenges of life is just the simple task of living in this moment, living a “present tense life.” There are two great enemies of a walk with God that try to keep us from walking with God in the “now.” One is “the fantasy of what could have been,” and the other is “the fear of what might be.” Let me address each one of these for a moment.
The fantasy of what could have been- We all live our lives looking back to the past or ahead to the future. It’s rare that we live in the present tense. One of our enemies is the “fantasy of what could have been.” We will often look with a longing for a change because of our present adversities- “If only I had married the other person,” or “If only I had finished college,” or “If only I hadn’t made that horrible mistake” then life would be….. And our thoughts race to alternate present reality because of our dreams of “if only.” Dreaming about what could have been can be a wonderful diversion, but it’s sin plain and simple. The truth is that there is no “if only I had.” There is only what is. Dreaming about an alternate life that would turn out different is a fantasy that brings nothing good to our present situation. It only makes the “now” harder because our fantasy solutions would have completely eliminated our real dilemmas and the need to trust the Lord with our real problems today. So, here is the first sin we often fall into. When you are tempted to visit the land of “if only I had…” make the decision not to go. It’s a trip that only brings disappointment to what is your life right now.
If only and what if ---let both go and enjoy the pleasant present tense
2. The fear of what might be- The other problem I see many struggle with is “the fear of what might be.” They are experts at worrying about something that hasn’t even happened yet. There is no way any of us can see the future, so for us to worry about it before it ever gets here is a clear lack of faith in God to care for our tomorrows. Jesus clearly said, “don’t worry about tomorrow.” He knew we were tempted to do this, and warned us against it. Fear of what might be often keeps us from walking with God and trusting him RIGHT NOW.
Walk is present tense
We each have to live a present tense life intentionally. The distractions of fantasy about the past and fear about the future will easily get our attention away from a walk with the living God right now. I mentioned the word “walk” intentionally. It’s the word that the bible uses to talk about our lives of faith. The bible calls it a walk because there are some wonderful present tense elements to a walk that will help us stay focused on the now. Here they are quickly for your consideration- a walk demands a destination, but it can only be done one step at a time, one foot on the path toward the goal, one decision at a time to reach the goal. A walk demands a present tense life. That word, walk, often helps me get back to “now.”
Embrace all moments as gifts from God!
0f course, true Joy can also be found in struggles when Jesus goes with you through it.
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." (Romans 5:3-5)
