By Mark Maher
“We are only passing by….in the blink of an eye we could be gone, yet, If we live life right, one life is all we need. The most important thing we can do is not waste it.” Eddie Pinero
We write our story. Pages are written and the past is solidified, and the future is uncertain but it’s beautiful and it’s full of potential, so we can continue to move forward in what we have always done, but you will have to be ok never knowing what peaks could have been reached. We can’t be afraid to take chances. If God is in it, it will be ok.
Be brave enough, be open to “doing a new thing; it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19) as God will make a way and “whoever watches the wind will not plant; and whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Ecclesiastes 11:4)
Christ will lead us to where His Will begins. “It’s what we trust in but don’t yet see that keeps us going.” (2 Corinthians 5:7 MSG) For we walk by faith, not by sight.
Have to live life to the full, as Christ told us “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10) So why shrink down, why diminish, as we are told 365 times to “fear not” and to “be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6) and I trust His promises so I’ll strive to “seize the opportunity of a lifetime within the lifetime of the opportunity.” Leonard Ravenhill
In other words, to live in the PRESENT, and to not waste a minute. In this temporary world, be courageous in the face of uncertainty, be fearless through the suffering, be in HIS WILL despite OUR WILL being easier, and finally be relational though you may want to be anything but because isolation becomes a stronghold in the attempt to stay safe as it’s our default.
Faith inches forward, Christ beckons us forward into new territory until the challenge becomes easy, until the new level is reached, as we progress “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:8) from redemption to sanctification, solidifying our faith and subtlety “becoming unshaken.” (Psalm 16:8)
Lord, you can trust me. I trust your goodness. I trust you in the paths you take me down, in the plans you have in store, even the trials and the storms of life. We just keep walking steadily in the Word of God. It’s all beyond our understanding, “such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high, I cannot comprehend it.” (Psalm 139:6)
But I do know how to be obedient in the moment. To be thankful for this day, won’t waste it in worry. Will choose to humbly walk forward. So don’t waste your hope. Don’t waste your grace, strength, and all the God given moments presented daily.
“Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.“ (2 Corinthians 6:1) He gives us grace to overcome, don’t waste His grace. So “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
So we must receive His grace by faith, and don’t waste it, don’t lose His anointing, His strength, His HOPE. No, receive it in abundance, to the full.
Don’t waste the pain. It’s the place Christ heals, where wounds become scars and the hurt becomes the ministry. Find acceptance and let it become you. It makes you who you are, so don’t fight it anymore, embrace it. Don’t waste the brokenness of your past, it’s where others will connect because hurt people empathize with hurt people and until you understand your weaknesses, you won’t appreciate God’s strength.
God gives us His grace to comfort the broken. This is our audience. This is the one taking center stage over the 99. (Luke 15:4) I see you. You’re who I come alongside. The one who I can see it in their eyes because I recognize this hurt. He gives HIS strength and grace to “speak life and hope” to you, and I won’t waste it.
