In the Moment.

July 5, 2019

Enjoying the ride…embracing the purpose God has given you…choosing to be intentional about the time and life you are given…living in the moment.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about life and all that God has in store. I am 21 years old (hard to believe!) and so often life seems full of promise. I have so many goals and dreams. Next year, I am scheduled to graduate college, if God wills it. What then? There are so many drastically different directions my life could take. With all that in mind, I am beyond thankful that my God has a plan and that He is ever faithful to guide me through the changing seasons of life.

But, with all these hopes and dreams and changes, how do we live in the moment?

There’s a song called “Through the Window of a Train,” by Tim Stafford that says it like this,

Seems like the whole world’s further down the track, but I’m always looking back.

A thought.

As I am writing, I am driving in our bus with my family from Texas to Oregon where we will be for the next couple of weeks. It is such a beautiful drive! The rock structures through Utah, Wilson’s Arch, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, the green, rolling hills, the blue skies filled with pearly white clouds…incredible. I am making precious memories that I know I will treasure for the rest of my life.

Yet, in the midst of it all, I often find that it’s so easy to look forward to my next adventure, to next year, to next week. Or, I’m looking back on old memories, thinking of times gone by.

Are there times for reliving the past? Yes! Remembering where God has brought you from can be such an encouragement and inspiration. Are there times for looking forward to the future? I believe so. We do need to have a direction and always be searching for God’s will for our lives. He has a plan, and we must do our best to follow His leading and seek His direction. Proverbs 16:9 says, “A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.” I think dreaming is a beautiful part of living, just as long as we keep our hearts and minds open and sensitive to God’s leading.

A choice.

In the midst of reminiscing or dreaming, though, we have to be careful to not miss the precious moments of today.

I’ll look back on this and smile, because it was life, and I decided to live it. – Anonymous

I decided to live it. Enjoy the ride. Another song called “Sounds of Home,” by Shawn Lane says, “The sounds of home, the ones I took for granted. The sounds of home the ones callin’ me. Things I used to listen to while I was thinking of a better place to be.” It proceeds to say, “How I miss the sounds of home.” Could it be that, while we dream of the future or relive the past, we are missing the moments of today? Moments we will never get back? Moments we will someday miss?

I fear the answer is yes. So, how do live in the moment?

A freedom. 

Morgan Harper Nichols said it this way,

“Take deeper breaths in the hallway. Enter brand new rooms unrushed, for there is freedom in unknowns to breathe, to rest, to trust.”

I love that. “Freedom…to breathe, to rest, to trust.”

The truth is, God is not in a hurry…even when we are. His timing is different than ours. In fact, His ways are higher than ours, and, in order to live in the moment, we have to be okay with that. We have to learn to be content. As it says in Philippians 4:11, “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.” Paul says that he learned to be content wherever God lead him, even when those places were not ideal.


With that, I challenge each and every one of you to realize, this is life. Do not let it pass you by as you pine away for the future or live in the past. Take time to smell the flowers. Go for a walk, take a deep breath, read a book, admire the starry sky on a clear night.

Enjoy the freedom of trusting God and His timing, learn to be content…choose to live in the moment.

 

 

Until next time… ❤

Sincerely,

2 Comments

  1. Reply

    Gracie Newman

    Thanks Hannah! I needed this! Such a good reminder!

    1. Reply

      Hannah D

      Aw thanks for commenting, Gracie! I’m glad it was a blessing.
      – Hannah D

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