Living in the Past, Present or Future?
What's driving your current thinking, living, belief's, direction and so many more activities? It's a question that perhaps has been on more minds then my own lately. I don't know about others, but it seems like momentum in life is out of our control right now . . . .or is it?
Yes, there are different requirements in place due to Covid, but are they stopping our movement or just putting some detours in place? I guess the question that needs to be asked, is "for what time in our life are we aiming"?
Living in the PAST may be great as we travel down memory lane, but it can also bring the not-so-fun realities of what has happened. To be sure, our past is something for which we ought to thank God and be grateful that our past is now behind us.
Many life coaches tell us we should aim to live in the FUTURE . . . . that it is good to have goals and dream about where you are headed. Plans are always a good thing to have, but they can also distract us from what is happening right now. It is also frustrating when what we are aiming for is not coming quick enough or perhaps in the way we thought it would.
So lets talk about living in the PRESENT. This has become increasingly hard--not due to our current pandemic, but because of the many devices, social media platforms, news sources and the never-ending growth of our culture. I am not trying to say those things are necessarily bad, but it is hard to live in the present right now, right where God has you, because so much of what is going on is preventing us from focusing on living in the present.
Yes, there are different requirements in place due to Covid, but are they stopping our movement or just putting some detours in place? I guess the question that needs to be asked, is "for what time in our life are we aiming"?
Living in the PAST may be great as we travel down memory lane, but it can also bring the not-so-fun realities of what has happened. To be sure, our past is something for which we ought to thank God and be grateful that our past is now behind us.
Many life coaches tell us we should aim to live in the FUTURE . . . . that it is good to have goals and dream about where you are headed. Plans are always a good thing to have, but they can also distract us from what is happening right now. It is also frustrating when what we are aiming for is not coming quick enough or perhaps in the way we thought it would.
So lets talk about living in the PRESENT. This has become increasingly hard--not due to our current pandemic, but because of the many devices, social media platforms, news sources and the never-ending growth of our culture. I am not trying to say those things are necessarily bad, but it is hard to live in the present right now, right where God has you, because so much of what is going on is preventing us from focusing on living in the present.
I am reminded of God's story through Elijah in 1 Kings 19. Elijah was on the run out of fear for his life because Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab, wanted him dead. Elijah thought his life was over when God's messenger came to him and told him to strengthen himself for the journey. So Elijah traveled for forty days and forty nights and came to a cave in which to stay. There, he heard from God and was reminded that God speaks in many ways.
1 Kings 19:9-14 - And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
God then told Elijah to go back and gave him directions on what his plans were. Elijah had run from the past, ran uncertain into the future and now heard God through a gentle whisper.
Are we also waiting for God to speak, to give us direction, and if so, what are we expecting Him to say?
1 Kings 19:9-14 - And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.”
God then told Elijah to go back and gave him directions on what his plans were. Elijah had run from the past, ran uncertain into the future and now heard God through a gentle whisper.
Are we also waiting for God to speak, to give us direction, and if so, what are we expecting Him to say?
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I had a friend share with me about the "Helmet of Salvation" once. It's mentioned in Ephesians 6.
He said he knew he had that securely on but was pretty sure he wasn't wearing the rest of the armor mentioned. Then he said "I must look pretty silly to God in my birthday suit wearing this magnificent helmet!!!!" We laughed together but I won't forget that moment.
I think God is telling me to continue standing firm in His Full armor & encouraging others in His Ways. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12