Over this past summer, I spent some valuable and I mean extremely valuable time with a very special individual who took time out of their life to just pour their godly wisdom into me. To uplift my spirit. To help me to understand the things that needed correcting in my life. To remind me of the things that God has already put inside of me, and the privilege it is to be a servant of the most high God. Most importantly, to help me to not only see, but to connect with this truth which is, "Tracy, your life is moving on whether you decide to participate in it or not."
Now when I say this, I don't mean it to be more of a passing thought. This truth was presented to me in the context of a flashing "red flag" that I knew was there, but it became more of a background noise in my present life. You know why I allowed this to become more of a background noise in my present life? Because until I connected with this truth, I just figured God knows my heart and struggles so God will continue to be patient with me until I work through this maze embedded in my mind. I figured this is normal human being activity. After all we go through life, things happen to us, and we even share these things that happen to us to encourage others so I'm thinking at least I'm doing something good for Jesus. What I didn't connect with was that even though this maze in my mind was still very active, I was the only one hindering my ability to be more effective for God! Don't get me wrong, I know I am being effective for Christ, but I hadn't truly connected with the fact that I was overdue in exiting and closing the door to this maze.
I'm typing this article on September 15, 2019, and today is a day that not only am I alive to enjoy, but it happened. What I mean when I say it happened is that with the grace of God I woke up, I lived in it, I made decisions throughout the day, and there came a point in the day that i began to settle down for the evening and organize for tomorrow's activities. See in this life that God has given me, I will never relive September 15, 2019, again and neither will you. This day and the purpose of today's activities are done. The question is did I participate in it or not, or was I busy entertaining this active maze in mind.
Tomorrow and the next day will come, and this is the very thing that I want to talk with you about today. Some of you can spout off the details of EVERY single thing that has happened to you in the past like it is a recorded story or song. You put great "pride" into the meticulous details, the characters, the events, and you are so good at it that the listener almost feels as though they were right there with you. All of this has one problem, it's over with. It has happened, and you lived in it already just like you lived out today September 15, 2019. You will NEVER see that time again in your life, that day, that hour, that event, or that moment yet it is still an active maze in your mind today September 15, 2019.
Now if you are a Jesus follower like I am, you should know just how good God is? You should have experienced the goodness of God in the smallest of things in your life? You should have an idea that God loves you? You should have an idea that God has a purpose for you? You should have figured out by now that God is allowing you to see that each day that you wake up is a gift? With all of these questions posed to you, do you feel this is enough for you to pursue God's plan for the rest of your life?
As much as i care about you, my hope is that you will connect with this truth like I did which is, "Your life is moving on whether you decide to participate in it or not," I want you to sit in this truth for just a minute. When you and I spend countless hours pursuing our past arguments and behaviors, we miss so much of what is currently happening in our life. We miss God answering that prayer we just prayed last night. We miss God showing us the best way to apply for a scholarship. We miss God allowing us to cross paths with a person who can tell us how to start up that business. We miss God using that retired nurse that you met at the gas station to put you at ease of an upcoming procedure. We miss the true meaning of that hug your nephew gave you. We miss seeing the value in a neighbor who just wants to be helpful. We miss the true meaning of that person God sent to you just to bring you hope while you were waiting for your kid's soccer game to finish. In some cases, we miss even knowing that we have entertained angels sent by God (Hebrews 13:2).
Your life is currently happening. I don't mean your thoughts of telling yourself that as soon as you get through this or that calms down or this particular thing finishes then you can move on. I'm here to tell you that NOPE it doesn't happen that way just because you wish it too. Your life happened even during those days you were not presently living in it. This meant you missed some extremely valuable opportunities, because you didn't want to make a move until you got through a particular situation or until that thing calmed down or finished. You need to embrace and accept the fact that your life is still happening with or without you.
Now that I have corrected this behavior in my life, I really want the same for you. I don't want you to miss your life happening... I don't want you to miss anything else that God is sending your way. I don't want you to miss any opportunities God is sending your way. I don't want you to miss any people God is sending your way. I don't want you to miss out, because you think it is heroic to always put yourself last.
What I want for you and me is to be present in today, tomorrow, the next day, six months from now, etc.. I want you to grasp and hold onto this belief that you should NOT continue to put yourself last. I want you to bury those past behaviors and arguments. Matter of fact I will be the first one to volunteer as an example. In case there is someone out there that I have offended or hurt that I am not aware of that what I may have done is contributing to your inability to move on and be present in your life happening now, I just want to say I AM SORRY and PLEASE FORGIVE ME! I truly mean that from the bottom of my heart.
God intends for you to live a long and satisfying life (Psalm 91:16). All that it took to have you be born and to get you here on this earth was never designed to have you to live half of your life. All the labor pains your mother may have endured, she endured because she wanted you to finish strong even if your beginning was not that great. You are here for more than one reason. As much as you may think of all the past storms you have weathered were the sole reason for your existence, I am here to tell you that until you meet God face to face there are more reasons for why you are here on this earth.
There are so many good things waiting to meet you once you decide to live your life as it is happening now. Happiness wants to say hello to you. Making new friends wants to say hello to you. Getting married wants to say hello to you. Finishing your college degree wants to say hello to you. Having a family wants to say hello to you. Repairing broken relationships wants to say hello to you. Losing those stubborn 20 pounds wants to say hello to. Volunteering to help the less fortunate wants to say hello to you. Starting that new business wants to say hello to you. All you need to do is decide that you want to be present in your life now by simply putting some action behind your words and intentions. I'm going to do it, and I know you want to so... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
God Bless You,
Tracy