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There are many people in this world that do not take the time to appreciate
and enjoy this day that they are living in. They place their happiness and
enjoyment of life in the future as if it is something that they will attain
after reaching certain plateaus in their life. The important thing that we
must remember is that tomorrow is promised to no man and we are to make the
best of each day as it comes before us. We are to see today as the best
day of our life no matter how many hardships are in our path trying to
bring down our spirits. The Bible declares in Psalm 118:24, "This is the
day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." We are
to rejoice in this day that God has given us and try our best to make the
most of what we have been given now. (James 4:13-16) (Psalm 33:1-15)
If you have been placing your happiness in the future waiting for some
event to take place, I would encourage you to renew your mind with the Word
of God and know that today is the best day of the rest of your life and so
is tomorrow. (Romans 12:1-2) (Psalm 51:10-12) (Nehemiah 8:10-11)
I hope you are encouraged and inspired by today's message to stop waiting
for the future in order to be happy and simply be happy right now knowing
that God loves you and is on your side.
WASTING TIME
I have always believed that wisdom is a lost virtue in our society.
Although a lot of emphasis is placed on intellectual development, there
isn't much to be said for good, old-fashioned common sense. This is a
shame because as important as knowledge is, there are some things in this
world that you just can't learn from books.
We learn a lot from our own personal experiences, but I believe you can
learn just as much from the experiences of other people as you can from
your own. There's a vast well of knowledge to be tapped if we're willing
to listen to people and think about their words. You would be amazed at
how much your own life can be changed by the wisdom of others.
I'm sure we've all had experiences where the wise words of another person
touched our lives, and even changed the way that we see the world. I am
fortunate enough to have had a grandfather that, while short on formal
education, was rich in wisdom that he was eager to pass on. My brother and
I can recount endless stories about his life experiences. What impacted me
most, however, was not another story from the Navy during World War II or
his stories of the days when he was raising my mother, but rather advice
that he offered me in a time and place where I needed wisdom and didn't
even realize it.
I clearly remember sitting in his den one spring day, prattling on about
how I couldn't wait until school was out for the summer. I was in the 5th
grade, and excited about starting middle school the following school year.
To all of my excited predictions about finally being free of grammar school
he said, "Sherri, don't wish your life away, because one day you'll wish
you had it all back."
His words stopped me then, and since that day I have come to understand
there was more to them than it seems. I'm sure that he was reminiscing on
his younger days and speaking of how one day I would wish for my youth
back. As I have grown up, though, I have come to realize that there's more
meaning than one to this wonderful advice.
Since then, I have never forgotten that each day, once gone, is gone
forever. Eventually, the passing days turn into weeks, months, and years
that will never return. The time we spend wishing them away to reach some
exciting future event is precious time wasted that can never be given back.
It reflects well on the concept that we call the current time the present
for a reason - the past is gone, the future isn't here, but today is a gift
that we can enjoy. We are definitely meant to use the time we have to
accomplish our purpose in life, because if we waste it by wishing it away;
who knows what golden opportunities we've passed up?
As I have grown up, I've come to realize there is another meaning behind
his words. Not only are we to use the time we have, but we should also
enjoy where we are on the way to where we're going. It's true that getting
there is half the fun, but we have to allow it to be enjoyable by not
griping or complaining about not having reached our destination yet. I know
this can be really hard sometimes. It can be hard to enjoy life if you're
sick, in pain or dealing with difficult or unpleasant circumstances. But we
have to understand that everything happens for a reason, and resolves in
God's perfect timing. Patience is key in working toward our goals, and
this is much easier if you chose to enjoy the journey.
Although life may hurt at times, there's a lot to be learned from painful
experiences. Sometimes, just knowing that you are growing in strength and
patience is enough to get you through those tough times. It may even
provide the glimpse of light you need to find hope and courage in getting
through. Remember that nothing ever lasts forever, and if we are patient
in pursuing the goal, then the success we enjoy will be sweeter. It's all
about living in faith, with a hope that today is a productive step toward
tomorrow.
I remember Granddaddy's words very well, especially when I'm in difficult
circumstances. I have recently come out of a dark season in my life when
it seemed nothing was going right. Friends turned their backs on me, work
was chaos, and my health was suffering from all the stress. I realized
that although I wanted to wish my way out of my situation, I wasn't really
sure what I was wishing for. I was wishing not for some unseen tomorrow,
but for hope. Recalling his words made me realize that I wanted hope not
just for the future, but for right now as well, so I would keep moving in
the right direction. It's amazing that those words gave me encouragement
and new insight 18 years after they were spoken to me.
Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away four years after that fateful
conversation. He may not be around any more, but his wisdom lives on
through me as I continue to live and learn from his wonderful advice. I
know now that wishing life away is just wasting time, and that all of the
time we are given really is a gift, whether we realize it or not.
By Sherri Fulmer Moorer
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
James 4:13-14, "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to
such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a
profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is
your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then
vanishes away."
Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall
fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields
shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there
shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy
in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and He will make
my feet like hinds' feet, and He will make me to walk upon mine high places..."
Psalm 118:4-6 "Let them now that fear the LORD say, that His mercy endureth
for ever. I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and
set me in a large place. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can
man do unto me?"
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today's Selected Poem: IF TOMORROW NEVER COMES
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/inpoem54.htm
Today's Selected Testimony: JESUS IS THE FAITHFUL PROVIDER
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony96.htm
In Christ's Service,
Dwayne Savaya
Gods Work Ministry |
