Being in the Now
Open the door to your heart and be in the presence of our Heavenly Father. Invite Him to join you in the gifted moments throughout your day.
Being in the now gives us the opportunity to be thankful for what we have today and embrace hope for what is to come. Find the time to enjoy the simplicity and beauty of life that our Heavenly Father has created for us today and everyday.
With the arrival of the new year, it’s a good time to lay the tracks down for the twelve months ahead. I have on my heart that this year is a season of new beginnings, a time for one’s soul to be refilled with the everlasting hope of restoration and newness ahead. A great way for us to begin our journey into this year of new beginnings is to simply embrace the presence of God’s love with a thankful heart. Allow your senses to be awakened to the simplicity of life and to nature, and explore your creativity.
For example, if you’re going to try a new recipe, I encourage you NOT to look at a step-by-step video to see how it’s done. Remember the old cookbooks? They were mostly all words – you didn’t really know what the final result would be but your creativity got you there. Cooking teaches us the joy of the process. The future is unknown but we are positive with anticipation that it will work out in the end.
When you are out gardening, slow down and appreciate the texture of the soil, leaves, branches and blooms as they pass through your hands; the smell of the soil as it releases oxygen after a watering. Appreciate the distant tweet of a bird. Appreciate the many colors on display. They are just for you. It’s not about what you are trying to achieve, it is about the joy you are receiving by working intensely on something and giving it your full attention.
If you are out on a walk, don’t just count your steps but really feel your body receiving the exercise, your lungs breathing in new air; feel the sun and the breeze on your skin and in your hair. Stop thinking about what you need to do when you get back home; appreciate the now.
These ‘now’ moments are where we are most alive.
Focus on what it is that brings you joy as you go about your day. Pay attention to these touch point moments for they are transformational. When we open our senses to the now, we are opening ourselves up to transformation, however small.
When we are involved in something we love, we lose track of time and in those moments something special – something spiritual – happens.
As you find yourselves in these ‘now’ moments, I ask that you appreciate this time as a gifted moment from God. Our relationships with God are all different and unique – but God loves us all. Our creativity with our time is a reflection of God. By appreciating our surroundings and delighting in His creativity and our own, we are in His presence.
Be thankful for what we have NOW.
6 Revive us again, O God! I know you will! Give us a fresh start!
Then all your people will taste your joy and gladness.
7 Pour out even more of your love on us!
Reveal more of your kindness and restore us back to you!
8 Now I’ll listen carefully for your voice
and wait to hear whatever you say.
Let me hear your promise of peace—
the message every one of your godly lovers longs to hear.
Don’t let us in our ignorance turn back from following you.
9 For I know your power and presence shines on all your devoted lovers.
Your glory always hovers over all who bow low before you.
10 Your mercy and your truth have married each other.
Your righteousness and peace have kissed.
11 Flowers of your faithfulness are blooming on the earth.
Righteousness shines down from the sky.
12 Yes, the Lord keeps raining down blessing after blessing,
and prosperity will drench the land with a bountiful harvest.
13 For deliverance[a] goes before him,
preparing a path for his steps. PSALM 85:6-13
“Be still, and know that I am God; Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 ESV
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 ESV
