Be Present: DWELL

Encounter the Word:

For a day in your courts is better
    than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
    than dwell in the tents of wickedness.  –Psalm 84:10 [ESV]

We get to choose where we spend our days.

Some of us DWELL on Yesterday.  We get hung up with regrets, and wishes that things had been different.  We remember hurts, and heartache.  We hang on to hatred and harbor resentment that all that could have, should have, would have been didn't turn out right.  We feel guilt, and shame, and unworthy, because our past record declares us guilty.

If we are not careful, we can be imprisoned by the past.  We feel coerced to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

But GOD had other plans, and through his Son, GOD gives us another place to dwell.

“So now anyone who is in Christ Jesus is not judged guilty.” –Romans 8:1 [ERV]

“So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through.” –John 8:36 [Message]

GOD claims us as His own, forgives us, and offers us Himself as our refuge.

Yet there are others who DWELL on tomorrow.  We fret about the forecasts.  We are nervous as the newscasts are filled with naysayers calling for impending doom and despair.  We believe in murphy's law and predict things going wrong before anyone even has a chance to do anything at all.  We get frozen because of our fear of what's around the corner.
 

If we are not careful, we can be so anxious about the future, that it consumes us. We feel coerced to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

But GOD had other plans, and through his Son, GOD gives us another place to dwell.

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 6:34 [Message]

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. –Philippians 4:6-7 [Message]

As opposed to squandering our days in the tents of wickedness, let us DWELL with the LORD.

If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent. –Psalm 91:9-10 [NIV]

Choose today to make GOD your refuge, the source of your strength.  Today, let GOD make His dwelling place your life.  Abide in Him, and let GOD abide in you, calling you His very own.

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. –Revelation 21:3 [NIV]
 

Encounter Prayer:
May today be yet another day I fully experience life as you intended.  I choose right now to rely on You GOD, as my strength.  May if find refuge in You, my Savior and Friend. Amen.

Encounter:

• How have the tents of wickedness been working out for you?
• Where do you want to dwell?  What steps you taking to move in?
• What might you experience if you decide to spend time in GOD's courts?  What are the benefits of His being your refuge?

 

Be Present: Spoken Word by Barabara Quaye

There is this war that is raging, 

raging within me.

The war against myself.

How I, 

how I often think too much about the future,

and what’s to happen,

that I forget about now.

I forget about what’s going on.

To see the sunset before me.

To see the joy of a new life.

How often do I look to myself to provide for the future.

To see what I can do next.

But you are there God.

You are there.

You are here.

You said you would be with me,

that you would guide me

and that you want to order my steps

and lead me to where I need to be.

I worry so much,

I worry about everything

but you told us to consider the lilies of the valley.

And consider the birds of the air.

When I hear these words of yours,

my soul longs for you.

I know one day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

One day.

One day far away?

One day to come,

or now?

You said the kingdom of heaven

is now in our midst.

Salvation is here today.

But will I miss it?

Do I see it?

There is all this striving within my soul Lord,

that I don’t even know if I can stop.

You are the peace Lord

and you call me to be present.

You call me to be here and now

and to breathe

and feel your love

and warmth.

To just see your beauty.

How blessed is he

whose strength is in you

that stops worrying about everything

and comes to you with arms open.

Fully aware,

just taking in every moment with You.

Every second,

every breath.

Lord our God, you sit on the throne

but I do not see sometimes.

I’m so busy driving on this road of life

and I just want to get

to the next spot.

You told us sufficient, enough

is today’s troubles.

You said do not worry about tomorrow

but think about today.

Now.

Be present, be in the moment,

be here.

Really truly be here.

Not just think about being here,

not just consider being here

but be here.

Be now.

Emmanuel,

God is with us.

Not God was with us

not God is going to be with us

but Emmanuel is here with us.

Where are you

and do you hear Him speak?

He says, cease striving

and know that I am God.

I am here with you

and we can be present together.

Spoken word devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church.  Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.

Be Present: GOD & Marshmellows by Jeremy Barnes

An article I read in Time magazine referred to an experiment that was conducted in which 4-year-olds were asked to sit in a room. The researcher then told the children they were free to eat a marshmallow that the researcher placed on a plate, but if they waited, they could have two marshmallows when the researcher returned to the room.

Some of the children immediately ate the marshmallow. Others held out for some time, fidgeting and desperately trying not to give in. Eventually, they succumbed to the sweet temptation and ate the marshmallow. But a few of the children were able to hold on, closing their eyes, ducking their heads, singing, kicking the desk or doing whatever it took to not indulge in the tasty treat. When the researcher finally returned, they were rewarded with two treats instead of one.

Some would say that the children that waited had more self-control, or possibly more fortitude, but I admired what they exhibited in trust. They trusted that the researcher in the white lab coat would do what he said that he was going to do, even though they could not see the reward as they sat and waited. When the researcher decided that they had waited long enough--about 15 minutes, which is an eternity for a preschooler--they were rewarded.

Now although this research was looking at how children are able to delay gratification adjusted to societal demands placed on them as they age, I saw many parallels to what GOD asks us to do on a day-to-day basis. Often times, like the children, GOD asks us to wait on Him.  In a world of instant gratification, this request may seem impossible. He asks us to simply “Be still...” and know that He is a GOD of His word, a GOD that keeps His promises.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity. These seasons of waiting on GOD might seem like an eternity; They can produce anxiety, stress, worry, inner turmoil, or cause us to make mistakes, thinking that our ways are better than GOD’s. We might be tempted to think that we can somehow rush GOD into giving us the “marshmallows” that He has promised us. But if we can learn to take a deep breath, and hold fast to the promise of Jeremiah 29:11, we can experience the fullness of GOD's blessings:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."

So take a deep breath, relax, and be still--knowing that GOD holds your future in His hands.

Encounter: 

• What are some areas of my life where GOD is asking me to wait on Him?
• What makes waiting so difficult? What are the thoughts that pop into my head, tempting me to rush forward instead of waiting on GOD?
• What promises do I cling to, helping me be patient with GOD? 

Devotional by Jeremy Barnes.  Posted by A. Allan Martin, by permission. 

Be Present: Game Plan by Barbara Quaye

I like to have a game plan.

As a college student I am thinking about things from clubs to classes. It is a different lifestyle. One day I may have classes till early afternoon, drive to a community service event, then come back to school for an evening banquet. My major gives me the responsibility of mastering various disciplines in my field, so I’m forced to figure out what I should be studying for the next week. College life seems to be all about schedules, planning, and getting ahead.

Apart from school, I have all kinds of everyday things to work in; from car inspections to grocery trips to dental appointments to oil changes. As a “picky dresser” I start Sunday evening by picking a week’s worth of clothing. Otherwise, I will try on five outfits, before I go with the first choice. I like crossing off the calendar days as I get closer to an event we have been planning for or an upcoming birthday party to attend.

I’m living for tomorrow.

When tomorrow finally comes around, I think about the next day. Makes for a busy week. Now I’m not saying it is wrong to plan ahead; I might not study if I don’t have a schedule or I might become a neighborhood restaurant regular if I didn’t plan time to cook. I am simply saying that sometimes we are so caught up in planning for tomorrow, that we forget about today. We forget about right now.

Christ Jesus told us “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 [Matthew 6:34, Message].”

At times, that is a little difficult for me. As a collegian, so much of my energy is wrapped up in tomorrow; I do like to have a solid idea about what will be happening next.

But GOD calls us to be present; to not obsess about the pressures of tomorrow and learn to live more fully in today’s moments.

Earlier in Matthew 6, Christ talks about how the lilies are more beautiful than any clothing store can design. He also says how the birds of the air don’t plant or store away things for later yet they have food to eat. That sounds like being a cozy heir; that is what GOD wants to do for us. He knows our needs and will provide. I don’t need to stress about the future. GOD promised us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He already has a life strategy for each of us. All that is left for us to do is stop, trust and “Be Present.”

Now that sounds like a great plan.

Encounter the Word:

“And this same GOD who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 4:9 [NLT]

Encounter:

• What are some things you like to plan for? What plans stress you out? Why?
• What would happen if you let GOD lead in your plans?  What might you experience in your today?
• Where in your life might you trust GOD a bit more?
• What steps can you take to rely more on Christ Jesus and discover His game plan?

 Devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church. 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?