By Mark Maher
One of the biggest deceptions is that you have more time. So we pace life as if we’re going to live until we’re 100. We think we’ll do it “sometime when” and in this thought process, the moments are slipping by every day. You have to have a fiery will to live life on purpose, because we’re here today, gone tomorrow. I’m 53 years old and I wonder where the time went.
Live in the moment. I have gained an appreciation for “walking by faith and not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) I like not knowing, I like trusting Him, I like letting the Spirit lead and getting out of its way. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and-overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.] (Matthew 11:28-30) Let His spirit lead and then I can rest, The spirits got this, I just have to quiet my mind and my heart. Lose my control, my pride, fear, anxiety, and all I have to do is love and encourage.
Life is focused on divine appointments. Divine appointments means connecting with people, speaking life into them, sharing Christ and being very bold in my faith. If God chooses to put someone in my path, I expect that there’s a reason for it, I anticipate that this is God’s doing, His will, so I want to see what God‘s got in store through this relationship. A Christian should be a relationship seeker.
“Memento Mori” is a Latin phrase that translates to “remember you must die.” The phrase reminds us to stay humble and to be mindful of our temporary time on this home. This one and only life is short. It moves too fast. Pride is to be laid down so that we can recognize our vulnerability and fragility and begin to live on purpose, His purpose.
I am too aware of how we are one doctor visit away from hearing the worst news. We are not as invincible as we would like to think. It reminds us to prioritize our life and to focus on what matters. What are you chasing that simply isn’t a priority for God’s will? Some things and plans must be laid down at the cross. They are too heavy and frivolous.
What are you procrastinating? What are you putting off? What in your mind do you think you have all the time in the world to take care of? What deception has the devil planted that tells you that it’s not time yet? That you’ll do it “sometime when.” I live by the motto, “if not now, when.” If I can’t do it this moment today, who is to say I’ll do it in the future. It simply must not matter to me enough. If it really matters, I’ll do it today.
“For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin – real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.” Alfred D. Souza
Humility must be at the core. A surrendered heart, available only to be a servant for Christ. “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” (James 4:6) “He must become greater, and I must become less.” (John 3:30) “Pride is the deadbolt that will block the promises of God in your life; humility is the hinge that will open the heavens in your life.” Robert Madu
“Sometime when” is a dangerous place to live. Look close at your life right now. Learn to live life in “what is.” Enjoying the true realities of your life. Appreciate even adversity because it’s interwoven into everyone’s life. Today’s life has much to be appreciated. Value the place God has for you in this season. “Let gratitude be awakened; let humility be deepened; let love be quickened.” Charles Spurgeon
So let’s live with intentionality. Put Christ at the forefront and live life with no regrets. “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” Seneca
