Time to Reflect
By Erik Farstad
May 19, 1998
"Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ."
Philippians 2:27a
Well...It’s been over a month since you last heard from me. Yes, I’ve been busy, moving into a new house, changing jobs, planning for a wedding, seems like a lot huh? In all honesty it has been. Just recently I was talking with my best friend about these last few weeks and something occurred to me. I asked myself, through all these "changes" how has my walk with the Lord been? How has my time in prayer, reading the word, simply thinking about God been? In all honesty, it’s been lacking. This my friends is the topic of this devotion. My reflection of the last few weeks...
"...I just want to be married!" My fiancé has heard this hundreds of times now. But what I’ve realized in my "wanting" is that it has driven me into a state of blah or rather a "stand-still." I want so much to be with my love that it hurts. So I seem to get into a state of being mad or upset, this causes me to pout. Like a little child wanting his toy...that’s me!
Why this story you may ask? How often do you want something, but know that it is out of your immediate grasp or that you may have to wait for it? We’ve all been there and some of you may be there even now. This is the critical time...the time of wanting...the time of waiting. What are you doing during this time. Do you find your time with God is less, praying seems more difficult, not feeling motivated to read the Bible? Is your focus on the "wanting or waiting" taking place of your focus on God?
Paul says, "Whatever happens..." WHATEVER! Strong words, perhaps, but the truth inside of them rings clearly to me. Does it matter that I’ve moved, started a new job, or am a month away from my wedding? No! My actions, time with God, my life should not change. I want to reconcile with God, to "want" Him! When I do that my wanting and anticipation for my new life and bride will not die, no, but rather I will be focused and more ready to serve my new bride when the blessed day arrives.
You see, I believe we can become so wrapped up in the things to come that we do not see the blessings right in front of our faces. So to those of you who are wanting something for tomorrow, longing for that "special" change to take shape hear me...God wants your longing first! When you take all that energy, time spent thinking and desiring that special tomorrow to get here today, stop and re-focus all of it towards our Heavenly Father. You may not realize it now, but the moment you turn all that anticipation over to God you’ll notice a huge change. You’ll see that because you stopped thinking about tomorrow and put your eyes on today, God has given you amazing things right here and right now to sustain you until that tomorrow comes.
If you don’t take your eyes off of the path up ahead and look at the path God has placed before you today, you’ll miss the beautiful flowers He’s planted at your feet!
Thank you for allowing me this time to share my reflection with you. God Bless you all.
In Him, "E"