Blog
Perspective
This past week I attended my great grandmother’s funeral. She was a Christian so the service was sweet and hopeful of seeing Granny in heaven some day. I got to thinking about how fast life goes. Some people live to be 97 while others never have their 8th birthday. Simple moments pass by quicker than you think. Spring Break is over, freshman year is over, your childhood is gone, people move away, relatives pass away. The goodbye’s and changes can be sad and depressing. I tend to keep the moments by making them never end. I will hold on to the blessings in my life, like I deserve them. I was reminded what God has to say during this time of transition.
“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will find it.” Matthew 16:25
The more I hold on to this life, the more it is lost. If my complete focus and devotion is on Jesus Christ, then He promises blessings in heaven and during this life too. If I’m more concerned with my own life and self centered on myself, then the quicker my life flies by. God desires me to give up my own will, my version of what I want my life to be, and let Him take control. We can’t always understand God’s way when life seems like an emotional roller coaster. Except, I’m continually reminded that when I surrender daily to God my life, I then am able “to discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God,” (Romans 12:2). God gives us the blessings in our lives in the first place, so who are we to get angry at God for taking them away? He has a plan. Why question Him?
It’s difficult to not worry and be content about what the future may bring. The Bible teaches in Philippians 4:6-7, “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This encouraged me because the Bible gave me almost a formula of what to do when I worry. PRAY. If I pray to God presenting my petition or request, with a thankful heart; then He promises to give me His peace which will guard my heart (emotions, fears), and mind (thoughts, doubts) in the name of Jesus Christ.
No matter how great of an experience we had at a camp or event, or how much of an impact and significance that happened in one night, we must move on. I reflect on moments of great importance as battles conquered or happiness achieved. But the battle moves on. Psalm 30:5 says, “...weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.” With a new day comes new battles, opportunities, adventures, and people. We have been authorized to move forward by the Commander in impacting our world by Jesus Christ. So advance!
“...forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
