I hear a lot about “the good old days,” but I have noticed that many people have selective memories about them. Either they remember the days in a better light than they were in reality, or they only remember the pleasant things while conveniently ignoring the more unpleasant parts. While I think it is beneficial to reflect fondly on our pleasant past, if we become so preoccupied with the past that we fail to engage today and look with faithful anticipation toward the future, then we have done God a major disservice.
Don’t Look Back
While we may not consciously think of it this way, when we think our past is better than our present or the potential in our future we fail to trust the sovereignty of God. With only the wisdom that God could have and according to His great pleasure, He brought you into the world WHEN and WHERE He did, and He has brought you to this point in your life to serve His great purpose. Preferring a past that seemed more enjoyable places our wants and pleasures ahead of God’s grand design and His awesome purpose in our lives.
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Three Ways to Live for Today and Look Forward to the Future
In Ephesians 5:15-18, Paul gives us great direction for living in the moment and preparing for God’s future for our lives. From these verses we can see three perspectives to incorporate in our lives.
1. Seize divine moments.
In verse 16 Paul encourages us to make the best us of our time. This particular word translated “time” refers not to chronological, sequential time, but rather moments of specific time…opportunities. You live where and when you live, you work where you do, run in the circles you run because God wants to use you RIGHT HERE. Not back then, RIGHT NOW. When we live in the past we miss those blessed moments when God wants to intervene and do something awesome in our lives. But we have to “look carefully” as we walk through life to see those moments.
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2. Discern God’s will.
We have made God’s will out to be something much more complicated than it is. God is not encrypted His will to hide it from us, but instead, He encourages us to pray when we lack wisdom and He will freely give us His wisdom (James 1:5). Simply put, doing God’s will involves daily obedience in the small things of life; BEING who His Word teaches us to be. If we live in obedience each moment of each day, we are obedient to His will. It really is as simple as that.
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3. Follow the Holy Spirit.
Paul uses the metaphor of drunkenness to help us understand the concept of following the Holy Spirit. Just as an inebriated person walks, talks, acts, under the influence of the intoxicating substance, so also one who is “filled” with the Holy Spirit walks, talks, and acts as the Holy Spirit directs. The Spirit-filled person learns over the course of time to live each moment of each day sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s communication and leadership. The Holy Spirit does not direct us to the past, but to live in today and look forward to tomorrow.
Have you been guilty of longing so much for the past that you have lost hope in today and given up on tomorrow? Get your head and heart back into the possibilities of God’s activity awaiting you. THE BEST IS YET TO COME.
The good old days weren't good either. For the love of God, update the app. This is the world we were calendared to serve. Jesus here & now.
— Beth Moore (@BethMooreLPM) June 9, 2016