Time is the most undefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future is not come, and the present becomes the past even while we attempt to define it, and, like the flash of lightning, at once exists and expires. ~Charles Caleb ColtonTime is one of those things in which we either wish we had more of or just went by quicker. We look at time as being ours, but time belongs to the Lord. We tend to live in our pasts so much our present seems as though it far into the future. A future we cannot even fathom, because we are stuck in the past. The past can hold us back. It holds us back from enjoying the here and now. We fixate ourselves on a time in our lives that we can not change, nor go back to. We pull the shades on the present because many times we are just afraid of moving on forward. Our pasts can hurt so badly, why would we want to move on? Can't it hurt just as much? We bury ourselves in what was and what could have been. But as the dirt covers us we are also covering the blessings of what is right in front of us. We get so blinded by thinking nothing can get better. How can I be forgiven? Why did those things happen? I just want to go back. So many emotions can keep us in the past. The past can steal everything away from us. Once yesterday is gone, it is simply gone. We cannot get it back no matter how long we try to stay there. But in the meantime, we are letting each moment of our precious lives slip away.
Today, right now, this moment is all we have. We never know what the next moment will bring. It can bring joy or calamity. We too can worry and fret about the future. Just wanting to keep today as it is and keep tomorrow at bay. But is that really a way to live? I think both, the past and future can kidnap us, keeping us in fear and isolation. That is not what the Lord wants for us. He wants us to let go of the past. Not concern ourselves with the future, but live in today. We can do this too. We can let go of yesterday knowing Christ has forgiven us. Realizing we cannot change yesterday is a big step in understanding grace. Grace covers our past and gives hope for today. In faith we take a step forward. In belief we know the Lord has tomorrow covered.
We can drive ourselves crazy thinking of what was and what will be. I have learned I have no control of tomorrow. I cannot change the things of yesterday, but for right now? Right here in this moment I can live like there is no tomorrow. I can smile and have joy knowing the Lord is guiding my path. He is there in each step I make. Just as grace covers yesterday, hope covers tomorrow and faith lasts for the moment I am in right now.
Don't live in your past. Don't let your past steal away your today. Don't allow fear to take hold of your future. Fear and faith just can't simply live together. It is one or the other and for this girl, I am taking faith and letting go of fear. Fear steals away everything good and in fear we cannot find our purpose. Everything is lost in fear. There is no reason for us to have fear. We can wake each day knowing we are a child of the King. We can walk into the next moment knowing our lives are in God's hands. And for me, I wouldn't want my life in any others.
Life can last but a moment or it can last until we are old and grey. But life is precious however long it lasts. Life here on this earth compares nothing to our lives in heaven for all eternity. But while we are here may we find our purpose and plan the Lord has for each of us. We are all connected in one way or another. We breathe the same air and have the same blood running through our veins. God gave us life. It is a gift for us. May we treasure each moment in joy and not allow circumstances to change our faith and hope we have for today. So see the sun shine today. Reach for the stars. Grab hold of that laughter and smell the fragrance around you. Let the Son wash over you today, giving you life. Allow yourself to feel the love of another. Give yourself room to grow in this moment you have right now. So my friends, get out there and live!!
