Keeping Eternity in Mind THIS Moment in Time

Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting is my life. (Ps 39:4)*

None of us know when our last day—our last moment will be. I want to make a lasting impact for my King; make every moment count. And that’s a good thing. I hope you do too.

But just like I so often do, I swing the pendulum too far in the other direction! In my desire to not waste time, resources, or effort, I had become overly concerned with the amount and type of results—that’s God’s department!

My Lord showed me that in order to have an eternally good impact,

I need to be focused in this present moment about how I can please Him right now.

~In this moment how can I act like Jesus who is living inside of me? What would He do this very minute? To whom could I give love or a word of encouragement? What act of kindness or service could I do?

~In this trial, how can I respond that will be eternally beneficial to myself, others, and be glorifying to God?

~In this hour when I cannot sleep for whom could I pray (instead of worrying)?

~In this busy day, in what way can I use my talents, abilities, time, resources, or knowledge for His glory without worrying whether my to-do list gets done or not?

~In this long list of tasks, which item is most important to do now?

~While doing this fun activity, am I pleasing God as well as myself?

~What book of the Bible should I read and ponder during this morning’s quiet time? Which one does God want me to read, not which one gives me warm fuzzies?

These are the type of questions we should consider during the fleeting moments of our lives.

We are to keep eternity in mind without disregarding this present moment in time.

There is definitely a tension here. Doing life our way leads to worry and stress. Doing life His way allows us to chill out and relax. We can trust God to lead us to the most important thing in this moment that will produce lasting fruit. Whether it’s changing diapers, witnessing to a neighbor, doing a kind act, working on a project (like me writing this blog), or relaxing. If our focus is on pleasing God, then we need not worry, be overly concerned with results, or the amount of impact we are making. Let’s just be concerned with how we can wholeheartedly please our Lord during this brief time period. In the end, we will see that’s it’s worth it!

As Charles Stanley often says,

“Obey God and leave all the consequences (i.e. results) to Him.”

Will you pray this along with me?

Lord, what do You want me to do NOW? For such a time as this? I want to make every moment count. I want to spend my time, effort, and resources wisely and for Your glory. I am desperate for Your wisdom and enabling! I thank You in advance for keeping me from swinging the pendulum too far in either direction!

Whatever you do [whatever your task may be], work from the soul [that is, put in your very best effort], as [something done] for the Lord and not for men, (Col 3:23)**