When Will You Live?

When will you live? In the past, in the present, in the future? There are people living in each of these. Some people get stuck in the past. They get stuck in regret...the mistakes that they have made seem to trap them and they can't forgive themselves. I can completely relate to this. It's hard to grasp the grace of a God who loves us unconditionally. [Ephesians 2:8-9]

I also find myself living in the future. I'm a planner. I constantly am finding myself searching for a purpose to conduct. However, what if that purpose is already here? What if I just need to open my eyes and let God start working....NOW. Easier said than done. Many times I think of myself on fire for God doing amazing things for Him...in the future. But why can't we do that now? Why wait? Fear? Pride? Yes, Both. Instead of always thinking of what we are to do for God in the future, let's start living our lives today. Glorifying Him through how we treat our family, friends, and strangers. God has put us where we are for a reason, who are we to merely wait until we are put somewhere else because of our fear of losing our "safety" and "comfort" or fear of  the opinions of others. Who are those "others" anyway? And why do we esteem them so highly in comparison to God? Jeremiah 29:11 states, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." God plans FOR you. He's given you today to use for His glory. So let's do that. Starting...now.

Don't get me wrong, I struggle with this concept day to day. But isn't that what faith is? Isn't that what being a follower of Jesus is? Surrendering to Him daily and being willing for Him to work in your life. For Him to shine light on the dark crevices and call you out on things. Allowing Him in your life to just be with you. Not focusing on regrets in the past or planning for the future...but living for Him NOW.

Sometimes I wonder why I was placed on earth at this specific time. With this specific generation. Dwight L. Moody states, "Where I was born and where and how I have lived is unimportant. It is what I have done with where I have been that should be of interest." Use the time that you have been given to glorify God. Stop looking back into the past regretfully and/or looking to the future and planning for a different time than He's given you today. Let's work on this together. Starting...now.