Before I start would you please pray for one of my most faithful readers and commentors: Martha Orlando. Her husband, Danny, contacted me yesterday asking for prayer. She is in the hospital with pneumonia. Thanks and I know she will appreciate it.
WOW! A wealth of info flooded me today. I’m narrowing it down to one dominant thought (at least for me).
God wants me to be present in the moment, but there is no way He expects me to focus here and live here forever.
We often hear people say-and rightly so-be in the present. What they are saying, I think, is don’t live in the past. For a mom or dad they are saying, “Be all there for your children. Don’t be playing with them on one hand and have a phone in the other.” For some-like sports teams-they are saying, “Don’t look ahead to the next game or games. Focus first on this one.” And that is so true. A person who focuses on the past will always be making crooked lines. The team (or person) who always focuses on the future games will lose sight of now.
I believe that I need to learn from the past and not dwell there. I also need to live in the present but not dwell there either. Although I do not know what my future holds, I need to remember that God does. Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me “Trust in the Lord with all my heart and do not lean on my own understanding. In all my ways acknowledge Him, and He will make my paths straight.” (word changes mine)
Paul David Tripp wrote:
If eternity is the plan, then it makes no sense to shrink your living down to the needs and wants of this little moment. (Jan 3-NMM)
That reminds me of the unicorn in C.S.Lewis’ Narnia book, The Last Battle. When the unicorn sees heaven he says, “This is the land I’ve been looking for all my life.” For the Christ-follower that should be true. He has set eternity in our hearts. I’m not made for this world only. Neither are you. Let’s live for the now with an eye always looking to the future.
“Father, I trust you to take my past. I can’t change it. Help me to live in the now but not be stuck here. Help me to keep my eyes firmly planted on the future.”
I’ve been praying for Martha since I heard yesterday. Thanks for sharing, Bill!
Thanks for adding to this Glynn. Most of all thanks for praying for her.
Stopping now to pray for Martha and Danny…
Learn from the past, don’t live there.
Live in the present, but don’t stay there. Strive for the future but don’t skip to there.
Well said Ryan. I like the way you capsulized it. Hmmm maybe I should learn that! 🙂
joining Martha’s friends in praying for her healing, her peace, and her family.
Thanks Linda
I followed your link from Linda’s site. Thank you, Bill, for letting us know about Martha. My heart aches for her and I’m joining all her friends in praying for her healing, strength, and peace. For strength and peace for Danny and the family, too.
Thank you Trudy for coming by. But most of all for praying for Martha. It never ceases to amaze me who people we have never met in person impact our lives.