Be Present: In the Now

Forever – is composed of Nows –

‘Tis not a different time –

Except for Infiniteness –

And Latitude of Home –

From this – experienced Here –

Remove the Dates – to These –

Let Months dissolve in further Months –

And Years – exhale in Years –

Without Debate – or Pause –

Or Celebrated Days –

No different Our Years would be

From Anno Dominies –

– Emily Dickinson

The Kingdom of GOD fills this moment. 

For the GODfollower who believes in the awesome authority of Christ Jesus, eternity is not off in the distance, to be experienced someday in heaven with harps and halos and fluffy white clouds.  Forever includes this day, this “now.” And no moment in the Kingdom of GOD is to be squandered.

In critique of Dickinson’s prose, Gudrun M. Grabher offers, “Evasive and intangible as the concept may be, time is considered to be one of the most precious and valuable aspects of our life. . . In terms of its preciousness, and even reality. . . time is most real and most valuable as the present. The present moment is what counts. . .”

Yet all too often, the moment slips away from us, as we are so easily distracted by demands on all sides.  Our lives can quickly blur in the rush of the urgent and the worries of the day.  The Kingdom of GOD can get lost in the checklist; It can be compromised by ambition, surrendered to selfish gratification.  The moment can inadvertently evaporate with the heat of life lived frantically.  In the midst of your frenetic life, GOD beckons:

Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
      He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
   Bans war from pole to pole,
      breaks all the weapons across his knee.
   Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
      loving look at me, your High God,
      above politics, above everything. --Psalm 46:8-10 [Message]

Being present affords us a long loving look at Christ Jesus.  He adores you.  Although the entire universe is under His care, the details of your life are not trivial to Him.  It is in those very details that His Kingdom is often revealed.

If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don't you think he'll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. –Matthew 6:30-34 [Message]

GOD’s invitation to “be present,” is an offer for us to simply relax.   

He’s in control.   

He’s got it covered.   

He’s got your back.   

Check your worries at the door, and enter into a “now” with GOD steeped in the realness of His peace, presence, and provision.  Be present.

May the Kingdom of GOD be at hand, right here, right now, in you.

Encounter Prayer:

Hear my prayer, Lord God Almighty;
    listen to me, God of Jacob.
Look on our shield,[a] O God;
    look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts
    than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
    the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
    from those whose walk is blameless.

Lord Almighty,
    blessed are those who trust in you.  Amen.  –Psalm 84:8-12 [TNIV]

Encounter:

• What might you do to "be present where you are?"
• How will you value today, recognizing it is part of your eternity?
• Who might you invite to spend some time with you on a get-away with GOD?

Be Present: In the Slammer by Robert Dickerson

Encounter the Word:

I want to report to you, friends, that my imprisonment here has had the opposite of its intended effect. Instead of being squelched, the Message has actually prospered. All the soldiers here, and everyone else, too, found out that I'm in jail because of this Messiah. That piqued their curiosity, and now they've learned all about him. Not only that, but most of the followers of Jesus here have become far more sure of themselves in the faith than ever, speaking out fearlessly about God, about the Messiah. –Philippians 1:12-14 [Message]

Regardless of your situation, there's opportunity for growth and spreading the message of Christ. Circumstances change all the time around us:  You get a new job and you're introduced to many people; You get married and your family grows; You move to a new neighborhood and get to discover and build the community around you.

Life is always full of events that present opportunities to reach new people and to share GOD’s love. We try and envision down the road living in wonderful neighborhoods without crime, being married with a big family, being involved in church and sharing your gifts. We think, maybe then I'll be able to contribute to GOD’s Kingdom. The truth, though, is that right now you've got the same opportunities, chances to touch the life of someone around you and share the joy or praising GOD.

When in jail, Paul didn't go off to sit in the corner and say, well it's been a good run. Paul took the situation he was presented with and turned it around, preaching the Message to his fellow inmates and the guards that were holding him. Many of them became curious about Paul's teachings and discovered who GOD was. Some outside of jail were trying to take advantage of his absence by trying to grab the spotlight of teaching GOD’s Word, but the truth was, Paul didn't care because as they spoke, people were hearing the Truth and still accepting GOD into their lives. Even though they didn't have the best intentions, they were still getting positive results for GOD.

So regardless of your current situation, you have the choice to stand strong for GOD, to show that no matter how great or awful things may get, GOD is still first and present in your life. He hasn't left you or let you down, but is working on something greater in your life and in the life of someone else you'll cross paths with. So stay focused on Christ, here and now. Accept His Spirit in your life at this moment and be amazed at what GOD can accomplish through you, regardless of your status in this world.

Encounter Prayer:

So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God. Amen. –Philippians 1:9-11 [Message]

Encounter:

• Where are you in your life today that seems like a peculiar place to share your faith?
• What unique relationships has GOD fostered for you? What's keeping you from sharing Christ?
• How might you become more keenly aware of circumstances GOD's crafted for you to share Good News?

Devotional by Robert Dickerson.  Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.

Be Present: Treasure Today

As a teenager, I remember grown ups talking gloriously of how it was in the “old days.”  They would talk about how this, that, or the other was so much better back then compared to now. 

“When I was growing up…” 

“Life was better when...” 

“Back in the day we used to…”  

And as I have grown older, I have caught myself at times doing the same thing; sharing fairy-tale sized stories of my own “days gone by” and the bigger than life exploits of my yesteryears.  Yesterday was all that.  Right?

On the other side of the pendulum, as an adolescent, I had a great optimism about the future—bright, bold, and full of promise.  This appeared no more prominently than in my great ability to procrastinate.  Whether it was household chores or the earth science project for class or brushing my teeth, I was almost genius in my ability to put off until later, practically anything.  It was a real skill.

Even as an adult, I can put off packing a suitcase, cleaning the garage, or getting on the treadmill almost indefinitely.  There’s always tomorrow.  Right?

In his book, Today Matters, leadership guru John Maxwell, outlines well my plight, and maybe you share my predicament:

• We over exaggerate yesterday – past failures and successes
• We overestimate tomorrow – things will get better, I will do it tomorrow
• We underestimate today – don’t recognize today’s potential and value

True.  In my more honest moments, I would confess to have squandered more than my share of todays.  Fondly framing yesterday and/or putting off until tomorrow, I’ve missed the power and precious jewel of today.

By embracing today, I have opportunity to form history that shines legacy.  If I embrace today, I foster a tomorrow that fills with hope and joy.  Exaggerating the past and overestimating the future are distortions that, at their very best are fantasy—at their very worst provoke anxiety.  All the while, what I have in my hands is…today.

So what might I do to harness the potential and value of today?  Matthew 6:33 [CEV] suggests, “But more than anything else, put GOD’s work first and do what He wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.”

More than the future or the past, seek first Christ’s kingdom and His righteousness…right now. Today.

Today, I want to be in His story, not merely idolizing history.

Today, I want to be in this moment, not putting off real life to some day.

Today, I want to be all about Christ Jesus, because He holds all of it—

   My past.

   My future.

   My present.

Today, I want to be present.

“Do not look back and grieve over the past, for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has yet to come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering” –Ida Scott Taylor

May you and I live in the present, love in the present, and discover the gift of the present…today.

Encounter Prayer:

Christ Jesus, let today be for Your fame.  May I seek after what is most important to You and find delight in the freedom to embrace this moment for Your glory.  Whatever You decide to give me is great, but for right now, let me give you today. Amen.

Encounter:

• What does it mean to you to “seek first Christ’s kingdom and His righteousness?” Beyond the religious stock answers, what are some practical ways to do this?
• Amidst what you have planned for today, what will offer you chances to seek Christ Jesus’ kingdom?
• How might you “Be Present” today?