Living for Today: Finding Kingdom Purpose in the Present with God

As the curtain has closed behind me on yet another year and a new year looms before me, there is a mixture of nervous anticipation and excitement with a splash of anxiety swirling around me.

What does the New Year hold?

What joys await me?

What fires will I be asked to walk through?

What new experiences will I have?

What heartache will I endure?

What areas will I grow in?

The first question dominos into the next and if I’m not careful to guard my thoughts, I will get swept away and lost in a sea of questions with little answers, because I don’t know the future.

So I want to take a step back from all the questions and sit in the present tense because the clock striking midnight and society announcing ‘Happy New Year!’ doesn’t make a difference to God.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. - Psalm 90:2

God has been sitting on His throne for eternity. He is the same God a decade ago as He is in this very moment, and He has set our life in the palm of His purposes because He knows how long He needs us here before we close the curtain on this side of eternity.

Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes - James 4:14 ESV

So what will we do with today?

Instead of allowing the entire year to stretch before us, possibly leaving us overwhelmed at the thought of what could be or wondering what’s in store — what if instead we embrace right now as a stepping stone on our path to forever with Jesus?

What if we start to embrace each of the days we are blessed with as a step toward what might come next; each of those days building on from the one before and preparing us for whatever God has in store.

Each day is linked, tied to a great story and leading us toward a greater day.

We don’t know how many steps we will take before we’ve reached the top of the staircase, but as we climb we learn, we grow, we overcome, we trip, we stumble, we rise, we fall, we get back up and we step again — all in one forward motion until the day we take our last step and the Lord calls us home.

But the goal is to keep looking upward, with glances over our shoulders to remind us of how far we’ve already come and thank Him for everything He has worked out in our lives to bring us to the step we’re standing on -- all for His glory.

Consider the difference we would make and the impact we would have not only on our own mental health, but on everyone whose life we touch if we woke up each day thanking God for the breath in our lungs and then asking: God how will You use me for Your Kingdom purposes today?

Consider the difference we would make and the impact we would have if we embrace each new day as a fresh start and an opportunity to speak the truth into the heart of even one person.

Consider the difference we would make and the impact we would have if we settle into the present, pouring our all into the gift of today by soaking ourselves in truth instead of worrying about an unpromised tomorrow.

We live in a world where it’s so easy to get sucked into the rat race and we forget that the high paced life isn’t one that Jesus led. He took time to sit and be with people. He listened to them and met them right in the middle of whatever they were going through. He didn’t rush, but instead leaned in closely to His Father to see where He was leading Him and being present in the moment.

This makes me think of one of my favourite stories in the bible found in Luke 8:40-48 about the woman who had an issue with bleeding for over twelve years.

This woman was an outcast, someone society wanted nothing to do with; and there she was on her last thread of hope when she heard about Jesus.

Jesus was in the middle of the throng of people; bodies pressed up against Him and hands pushed Him out of the way as these people set out to accomplish whatever it was they had to do.

Jesus Himself was on His way to heal a ruler of the synagogues twelve year old daughter who was about to die. But as He was making His way through the crowd, the hand of a desperate woman reached out and touched the hem of His robe in a last attempt to be healed.

And immediately she was.

Jesus stopped in the middle of the chaotic crowd, pausing from His task at hand to show compassion to this women and let her know that her faith had made her well, she could go in peace.

He was fully present with her in that moment.

And then He continued to the rulers home where He raises a dead girl back to life.

He was fully present with this family in those moments too.

I think it’s safe to say Jesus heading to Jairus’ house was a pressing issue and for Him to stay focused and get there as quickly as possible would have been completely acceptable.

But I believe since Jesus’ relationship with His Father was so intimate, He knew when to move forward and when it was time to pause and be present in the moment at hand.

Consider the difference and impact we would have if we took the time to lean in close to the Father to know where He is leading us and when to stop or keeping going.

Consider the difference and impact we would have if we were present like Jesus; letting go of our agenda to turn toward the one who is broken or the one who is hurting.

Despite what else is begging for our attention, we need to be willing to pause and care for those who are desperate for hope, healing and looking for a solution to their broken state.

We, as the hands and feet of Jesus hold the answer. The truth has graciously been revealed to us and now is the time to share it with the world.

I know it’s so easy to get caught up in the tasks at hand. I so quickly forget that God has a plan for my day that might be entirely opposite than what I had set out to do — but we all need to be willing to pivot because finishing what we think is important pales in comparison to what God deems as Kingdom work for today.

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. - 1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

What we do for the Lord today, will echo into eternity.

Love, your sister in Christ - Krista

Thanks so much for reading along, if this post encouraged you, would you share it with a friend or post it to your socials? You never know who could use these words right now 🤍

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