Your time is now

Your time is now. Your life is made up of millions and millions of…one moment at a time. As Einstein once said, “The distinction between the past, present and future is only a stubbornly persistent illusion.” In reality, all we have is now. The past is simply the collection of moments of your life up to now. And your future will be shaped by how you use your moments in the “now.” 

This time of year can be bittersweet—both full of disappointment and hope.  We look back at the past year and ponder the possibilities of the coming one. But as you ponder consider that there’s nothing particularly different about next year than right now. The new year is just a collection of  future “now” moments waiting to be realized.

They are just moments. But here’s something wonderful to think about this particular moment…

You can be transformed into the very best “you” one moment at a time.

This is a concept that Matthew Kelly puts forth in his book, The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity. Your welfare is something very dear to God’s heart for you. In this regard, here’s something Kelly says that’s worth considering as you reflect on your life during these last moments of 2018:

“Human flourishing is something that delights God. He is interested in the whole person—physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. God is fascinated with every aspect of people and he loves to see his children flourishing. Are you flourishing. Are you thriving, or are you just surviving? The beautiful truth is it doesn’t matter what your answer is to any of these questions, because you can start to turn it around one moment at a time, beginning now.” (p.107, emphasis added)

You see, by yourself (and based on past performance) you may not change, even with the best of intentions. But with God all things are possible. And He’s all about you flourishing, thriving, and being the best “you” that you can be. Beloved, one thing you can be certain of…He is for you.

Also consider that God does not refer to Himself as the “I Was” or “I Will” but as the “I Am.” And He is calling you and me to live fully…today. Holy Spirit is speaking right now to our fickle and easily distracted hearts, “Today, if you hear His voice…”

I will say one more thing before I end these moments with you. We cannot do God’s part and He won’t do our part. But the wonderful truth about our part is that we have the power to tell us what to do. Therefore, we can be changed one moment at a time. So let’s have Paul’s attitude toward these things as we ponder our lives during these final moments of the rolling year:

¹² It is not as if I had already attained to it, or were already perfect. But I press on, if so be that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself as having gotten it. But one thing I say: I forget that which is behind, and reach for that which is ahead, ¹⁴ and press on to that mark appointed, to obtain the reward of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ Let us therefore, as many as are sound in the faith, be so minded. And if you are otherwise minded, I pray God would open this to you. (Phil.3:12-15 NMB)

My prayer for us is that God will profoundly open our eyes to this glorious high calling. In the meantime, may you have an amazing New Year!