“The true definition of mental illness is when the majority of your time is spent in the past or future, but rarely living in the realism of NOW.”
― Shannon L. Alder
EZEKIEL 27-28
25“ ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I gather the people of Israel from the nations where they have been scattered, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of the nations. Then they will live in their own land, which I gave to my servant Jacob. 26They will live there in safety and will build houses and plant vineyards; they will live in safety when I inflict punishment on all their neighbors who maligned them. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God.’ ”(28:25-26)
JAMES 4
13Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
JOURNAL
God has really convicted me of how often I spend my days in the past and present. I have written about this and had devotions on it and talked about it...but really this conviction has not transformed my present moment. I assume tomorrow...and that assumption keeps me from making the best of today. Clearly I miss the mark when I don't embrace the wonder of today and live it fully...wringing out every last drop of opportunity to make an impact in the lives of those I love. This is my duty, this is my calling. To make it anything more is somewhat arrogant. I can plan for tomorrow...but to count on it as my happiness or as my source for joy is allowing the plans and hopes to take the place of God.
Live and soak in each moment in the presence of God fully focused on what I am doing and the people I am with. This is where in the past I have allowed my mind and heart to run away from the moment with distractions of thoughts or emotions. It is not that these thoughts or emotions are wrong, in fact they serve me greatly, they are the source of my memories, my ability to solve problems, my ability to plan etc. However if they keep me or distract me from making the most of today and the present moment then they hurt rather than help.
The bottom line is that today is a great day, full of great moments, ones that I will never get back, make the most of it, don't wait to love, engage and live it to the fullest!
Live and soak in each moment in the presence of God fully focused on what I am doing and the people I am with. This is where in the past I have allowed my mind and heart to run away from the moment with distractions of thoughts or emotions. It is not that these thoughts or emotions are wrong, in fact they serve me greatly, they are the source of my memories, my ability to solve problems, my ability to plan etc. However if they keep me or distract me from making the most of today and the present moment then they hurt rather than help.
The bottom line is that today is a great day, full of great moments, ones that I will never get back, make the most of it, don't wait to love, engage and live it to the fullest!
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