Blog Entries tagged 'future'

To BE Present

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100

I had already sorted out what I was having for lunch, I'd assessed the hairstyle of every person sitting in front of me and I was about to pick up a pen to write my 'to-do' list for the next week.

Jeremiah 29:1-32

Reference: v.5 "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Anywhere would have been better than being here. The church service had dragged on forever and the sermon had not even started! I had already sorted out what I was having for lunch, I'd assessed the hairstyle of every person sitting in front of me and I was about to pick up a pen to write my 'to-do' list for the next week. Have you ever been in a situation like that? Or maybe the question should be, 'How many times have you been in a situation like that?' Church services are supposed to be a time of worship and honour to God and yet sometimes we can find ourselves in the wrong frame of mind, or presented with information that does not assist us personally, to engage with God. At these times, before I pick up my pen and start writing out my goals for the next seven days, it is best if I pause and ask myself, "Am I being in the present?" It's almost too easy for me to be thinking ahead to the next activity but often I need to catch myself and challenge myself to just BE in the current situation. If the information being presented to me is not connecting with me personally then I can use that time to reflect on God in my own way. What a great chance to look back through the week and see what God has been doing and how He has been moulding me through the different experiences. What a great time to spend in prayer, communicating with God about worries and desires. We are often too quick to move on to the next thing without really stopping and truly being present in our current activity. We had already put that time aside to supposedly connect with God. Why not do just that?

Application: The people of Judah had been forced to leave their home town of Jerusalem and were now exiled in Babylon. I can only imagine that all they wanted to do was go back to their homeland or to be any where other than Babylon. But God sends them a message through Jeremiah telling them to set up life where they are. Ultimately God was telling them to truly BE present in their current situation. They weren't to dream of something different but to set up life where they were. It's not like they needed to be in paradise to connect with God but even in exile they could receive blessings from Him. We may not have been exiled to a foreign land, however no matter where we are we can focus our minds on connecting with God. We are often too quick to move on to the next activity or start preparing for the next big thing. But it's important for us to just BE in a moment. If we are truly present in a situation we are allowing ourselves to reflect more on where God is present and how we can connect to Him.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for rushing through life. Time can be our greatest frustration and yet we believe that you already have plans for our future (v29). May we trust You with our time and be willing to truly BE present in every moment. Amen.

How [...]

Use Me

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:00:00 +0100

As we started a new church service last year, I was never more excited than when someone would come to me and offer assistance.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

Reference: v.9 However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." (NIV Bible)

Explore: The New Year brings a great opportunity for reflection as well as expectation. As you look back on the year that has been, you are able to see the bigger picture. I know that as I look over the ebbs and flows of the last year I can now appreciate the perspective of the whole twelve months. I can rejoice that the difficult times were only for a season and I now know what I have learnt from such times. I can also celebrate the new friendships and the deepening relationships that happened over the year. But I think it's dangerous to look back without looking forward. The questions I ask myself now is, 'What was God preparing within me last year so that He can use me more this coming year?' We can never know exactly what is going to happen to us in the next month, let alone the next year. But I believe that if we are open to God working in our lives then He will use us for His glory.

Application: As we started a new church service last year, I was never more excited than when someone would come to me and offer assistance. A new attender offered to contribute to our music, a young adult offered to assist with a youth program, a parent offered to bring along some food. None of these things sound like rocket science but they all contributed to building a positive congregation. And what's more, it showed me that they were committed to our little faith community because they were willing to contribute. As I start this New Year, I want to show God that I am committed to Him by showing that I'm willing to contribute. I don't know what this year holds for me, but I am willing to open myself up to say to God, 'Use me!'

Prayer: Lord, use me! Whatever gifts I have, I give back to You. Whatever resources I have, I offer them back to You. And whatever faith I have, I recommit to living for You. Amen.

What are your hopes and dreams for this coming year? What are you prepared to say to God as the year begins?

Patiently Waiting

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100

While seeing into the future was the only super power he had, and his vision was limited to only one minute, he was still quite handy to have around.

Revelation 13:1-18

Reference: v.10b This calls for patient endurance and faithfulness on the part of the saints. (NIV Bible)

Explore: I was flicking through the stations on the TV the other day when I happened to see a show that featured a superhero that could see 60 seconds into the future. While that was the only super power he had and his vision was limited to only one minute, he was still quite handy to have around. It was often helpful for people to know what was going to happen to them in one minute's time. The frustrating part for the people around him was that he would often hold back the information from them. They would know that he knew something was going to happen in the next 60 seconds but he would wait until the last moment to tell them. In the end it seemed to be more excruciating waiting for him to tell them what was going to happen in the next 60 seconds than it was for them to just experience the minute for themselves.

Application: Sometimes I feel like this as well. I know that God has things in store for my life but unfortunately I cannot predict the future - and I certainly cannot predict God - and so I wait, often fairly impatiently. But one thing I have come to realise is that in all things we must wait patiently and believe that God will, and possibly already is, using us for His glory. He doesn't mean to frustrate us by not telling us specifically what is going to happen in the future. Often it is best for us to not know. And so we must hang on to our faith, believing that we are in God's mighty hands.

Prayer: Lord, give me patience so that I am truly putting my life in Your hands. Amen.

If you had the choice, would you accept the ability to predict the future?

Write It Down

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100

I had so many dates going around in my head on that day that I wrote in my diary that our appliances would be put in on Thursday, six days later.

Ezra 6:1-22

Reference: v.2 A scroll was found in the citadel of Ecbatana in the province of Media, and this was written on it: Memorandum... (NIV Bible)

Explore: We are just at the final stages of building our new house. It seems like so long ago that we were looking around all the display homes and weighing up the pros and cons of all the designs. Ten months later, we have the keys to our new home and all that needs to go in are our appliances. On the day of settlement we told our supervisor when we were moving and asked for him to have the appliances put in on Thursday, six days after settlement. 'No worries,' he said. I had so many dates going around in my head on that day that I wrote in my diary that our appliances would be put in on Thursday, six days later. Well, Thursday arrived and I called our supervisor to see when the appliances would be put in. 'Oh,' he said. 'I've made a terrible mistake. I know you said Thursday and so when I went to book them I hadn't written down the exact date and so I booked them for thirteen days time and not six days time.' If only he had have written the exact date down we would be able to move in to a house that had an oven and a hot water service!

Application: I really hate administration but I know that if I don't write things down they will easily get forgotten. It seems that the Israelites were also fortunate that someone took some notes a few years earlier. They were trying to rebuild Jerusalem but their enemies were doing their best to stop the progress. When the current king looked in the archives he found a scroll that not only allowed the Israelites to rebuild Jerusalem but decreed that they be assisted in the process. We need to be careful that paperwork does not strap us to our desk, however it can be very handy to keep our records up to date so that we can rely on them for future reference. Whether it is weekly bills or an annual report, it's important to be diligent in the small things as well as the major tasks.

Prayer: Lord, there are so many menial tasks that we have to do each day. Help us to see the bigger picture and to be wise in what we spend our time on. Amen.

What is a daily task that you find difficult to complete? What would happen if you did not do it?

Future Potential

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +0100

To be honest, looking at him as a shy 12 year old boy I would never have imagined he would be so active in his faith and so proficient in his musical ability.

Philemon 1-25

Reference: v.11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. (NIV Bible)

Explore: The other day I caught up with an old Sunday School student of mine, Peter. It was hard to believe that 11 years ago he had been sitting in my grade 5/6 class, learning about stories from the Bible. Back then he had just started learning to play the piano and, although he was a pretty smart kid, he was incredibly shy. These days he is almost at the end of his university degree, he gets paid to teach piano, he plays keyboard and sings in a band, he's released numerous CDs, he's one of the youth leaders at church and he directs an annual beach mission (just to name a few of his accomplishments!) To be honest, looking at him as a shy 12 year old boy I would never have imagined he would be so active in his faith and so proficient in his musical ability. Thankfully he was not restricted by my limited forethought.

Application: It is harsh when someone is judged by their previous behaviour as a child or teenager. Thankfully God does not have limited forethought and sees the potential in us at all stages of our lives. He is not restricted by money, popularity or human understanding. He can see great potential in all people because we are born in His image. This is a challenge for us too, when we look at the people around us. Do we limit them by not seeing their full potential? Often, if you look a little deeper and really get to know someone, you will find they have more potential than you ever thought possible.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for seeing the limitations in others rather than seeing their potential. May we look at our neighbours with Your eyes. Amen.

Is there someone who you are limiting because of your judgment on their potential?

Fond Farewell

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100

Depending on what lies ahead will determine what kind of a good bye I will give my husband.

Deuteronomy 31:1-30

Reference: v.23 The Lord gave this command to Joshua son of Nun: "Be strong and courageous, for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you." (NIV Bible)

Explore: Each morning as my husband, Cameron, leaves for work he will give me a kiss good bye and I will say, "Have a good day." When Cameron goes away for a couple of days to a conference, instead of our standard morning farewell I will give him a hug, wish him safe travels and say that I hope he enjoys the time he'll spend away. When Cameron and I know we wont see each other for a couple of weeks our farewell hug will be extended, our kiss will be a little more passionate than a peck on the cheek and I will tell Cameron that I love him numerous times. Depending on what lies ahead will determine what kind of a good bye I will give my husband. We all have appropriate farewells for different people and in different circumstances.

Application: As Joshua was handed the leadership of the Israelites, God said to him: "Be strong and courageous." Did this give Joshua a bit of an idea of what lay ahead for him? If I farewelled Cameron by saying, 'Have a good day, Honey. Oh and don't forget, be strong and courageous' it would say that I think Cameron needs extra strength to get through the day. In one sense maybe I should say that to Cameron each day as we never really know what will happen! But I think that when God said this to Joshua He was already preparing him for what was to come. Whenever we step up for God we can hear his words to Joshua being said to us, "Be strong and courageous... and I myself will be with you."

Prayer: Lord, sometimes what lies ahead of us seems insurmountable. May we go out each day with your strength and courage. Amen.

As God gave encouragement to Joshua, who do you know that may need your encouragement today?

One Week At A Time

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0100

My small brain can not hold the memory of even a whole month, and whenever I turn a new page in my diary it's like a brand new week every time.

Genesis 17:1-27

Reference: v.21 "But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you by this time next year." (NIV Bible)

Explore: I am totally bound to my diary. It's not funky, electronic or super-techno. It is a standard paper diary with a week per page... but I am still bound by it. If I need to remember anything at all, I will write it in my diary and you can be 99% sure that it will be done. However, if it doesn't go in the diary it's like the idea become vapour that slips into the atmosphere and is never thought of again! As I mentioned, in my diary I have one week per page. At the beginning of each week I turn over the page and see what I have already scheduled in for that week. Most weeks I seem to surprise myself with something, "Oh, I'd forgotten about that appointment"... "Ah, I remember when I wrote that in." Clearly I only live life one week at a time. My small brain can not hold the memory of even a whole month, and whenever I turn a new page in my diary it's like a brand new week every time.

Application: While I only live life one week at a time, God does not have such a simple planning structure. When He spoke to Abraham about Sarah conceiving, He was looking a year ahead. But more than that, when God made the covenant with Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation, God was looking many years ahead. God is not limited like my small brain that can only fathom one week at a time. God holds all of time in His understanding. We know that we can trust in Him, who not only understands our yesterday, embraces us in the present but holds in His loving, powerful hands our future.

Prayer: Father God, You hold our lives in Your hands. May I honor You with the time that I have. Amen.

What plans do you have for the future? What plans does God have in store for you?

Back To The Future

linda@dailydevotions.com.au — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 01:00:00 +0100

To know the possibilities of our future, we need to look back at our past.

Genesis 15:1-21

Reference: v.7 He also said to him, "I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it." (NIV Bible)

Explore: I have just started a Christian leadership course called Arrow Leadership Australia. As I head into a deep exploration of my potential in leadership I have been asked to fill in a great deal of surveys. First there was the personality test, then the strengths survey and now there's the leadership questionnaire. These resources are there to help me understand what I can do best in my future. However each time I fill one of these surveys out I am having to dig into my past to see how I have acted before. To know the possibilities of our future, we need to look back at our past. This is not to say that we are bound by our past but that we can learn about ourselves when we look back at previous behaviours.

Application: When Abram wanted clarification of his future, God reminded him of his past. God had been committed to Abram and brought him out of Ur and in so saying, God was committed to fulfilling his covenant to Abram. God is a faithful god. We can look back through the Bible and see the commitment he made and fulfilled through many people. Likewise, when we look back at our own lives we can see how faithful God has been to us. While this does not limit the potential of God using us in the future, it helps us to have faith through what He has achieved in the past.

Prayer: Lord, we are humbled that You would use us to build Your kingdom here on earth. May our faith in You increase each and every day. Amen.

What experience, encounter or situation has occurred in your past that has assisted your faith in God for the future?