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// P R E S E N T \\

I wish it need not have happened in my time," said Frodo.

"So do I," said Gandalf, "and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for
them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
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How we manage and prioritize our lives is all based around our concept of time.
Personally, each day I feel like I am in a race against time. Feeling like I havent done
enough, feeling like Im wasting my time, others or worse of all, Gods. In our society, I
feel we are taught as soon as we come out of the womb to plan ahead, start thinking
about our future, spend our time wisely. Which, I dont think anyone can argue, all of
that can be really beneficial advice.
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However, when we become consumed in our own time lines, Ive found I no
longer look to the Lord for His plan, but instead take a pencil and work in vain to figure
out my own plan. Which is tiring, and honestly, my plans never come to fruition quite like
I want them to. The one thing that puts my heart and mind to ease when I am
overwhelmed with time is stepping back and remembering about how the Lord views
time.
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Isnt it cool that time is the first thing he technically created? He spoke light into
being, and there also was the beginning of time. God made time and operates in and
out of time (2 Peter 3:8). He is the beginning and end, the Creator of the concept we
build our whole life around. (Revelation 22:13)
So what exactly does he tell us about time?
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
So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm
90:12
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be
added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own. - Matthew 6:33-34
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From these verses we see that:
-Our time on earth is not long
-The Lord desires us to have wisdom regarding the time we are given
-He solely desires us to seek His will and His heart
-He tells us not to worry

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After reading this, I physically feel my heart and spirit be put at ease. I am
reminded that Jesus does not want us to get caught in the unknown. The unknown can
be scary, but when we are doing life with the Lord, time all of sudden is not a scary thing
but rather time is viewed as a gift. This gift Jesus has given us is a call to be present
and remember that time is not ours but His.
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I went on a mission trip with my home church to the Holy Land my freshmen year
of college. On this trip, there was one phrase we heard over and over that I will never
forget, inshallah. This is the arabic word for God willing. After anything concerning
time was said, like if someone was planning on going on a trip that weekend, they would
finish their sentence with, inshallah. We see this same communication regarding time
from James 4:13-15. Even Pauls letters in the New Testament show that in whatever he
did or would do, he knew it was all according to the will of God.
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By living in recognition that the time we are given is according to Gods purpose,
we are invited to presently seek and enjoy the Lord. We are called to live a life that does
not to entertain worry but rather calls us to participate in kingdom things. Things like:
seeking peace, actively loving, serving others, choosing joy and understanding fullness
that comes from a relationship with our Father. How sweet is this? The beauty is greater
than I think we will ever comprehend here on earth.
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In conclusion, I invite you through this post and through this scripture to rest in
the present that God has given you. When we give our time and thoughts to God in
each moment, we allow ourselves to be led by His spirit. By doing this we are able to
practically give him all the glory in all things. I encourage you to pray more into what it
looks like to be present with the Lord in this day. What is he calling you to remember?
Calling you to do with this time right now? Remember, #youarebeloved
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