Right Now
Right Now!
You want to move forward with courageous faith. When you have the strength and spiritual balance you need, you begin to have the courage to do something. The problem arises when we don’t do what we need to do—right now! Whether it’s beginning a new ministry or business, serving others, or simply spending time with God, chances are, if you procrastinate, you will never do it. In my book, Overcoming Spiritual Vertigo, I address several reasons why we need to begin today.
1. Life is short. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)
2. Life is measured by time. The Bible teaches that we need to measure our days that we may present a heart of wisdom. “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) To put this in perspective, pretend life is measured like a clock—if you are 20 years of age, it is only 6:00 a.m., if you are 40 years of age, the clock reads noon, if you are 60 years of age, then it’s 6:00 at night. If I live to be 80, I have 6,590 days left to live, serve Christ, and to make a difference in the lives of others.
3. Your life has value. “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:14-16)
4. We must use time wisely. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15, 16)
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul is soon going to die. He writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, to come to him “before winter.” Why before winter? Because, once winter set in the docks would be closed and Timothy would be unable to go. There was a sense of longing and heartache in Paul’s voice as he wrote. The Bible never tells us if Timothy made the journey on time.
What do you need to do right now? Is there someone you need to visit, share your faith with, forgive, or express your love or gratitude toward? A few years ago, I was in a shopping mall near my hometown, and I noticed my dad talking to a man. Later, when dad entered the store, he told me the man he was speaking with was Brother Bob, my childhood pastor. I had not seen Bob in several years. Since that time, I had become a pastor of a large church in Florida—much larger than he had pastored. I wondered how Bob measured his ministry—had he accomplished what he planned to do for God? Could I be an encouragement to him? Now was my chance! But I froze—what would I say? I reasoned that I should have called him years ago and now it would just be embarrassing. By the time I finally found the courage to talk to him, he was gone, and though I promised myself I would call him, I never did. I just kept putting it off and sadly a few months later, Bob passed away. I lost my opportunity to thank him for being a good pastor to me.
What are you putting off? Know this—if you do not do what God leads you to do right away, the chances are high that you never will.
Do it right now!
You want to move forward with courageous faith. When you have the strength and spiritual balance you need, you begin to have the courage to do something. The problem arises when we don’t do what we need to do—right now! Whether it’s beginning a new ministry or business, serving others, or simply spending time with God, chances are, if you procrastinate, you will never do it. In my book, Overcoming Spiritual Vertigo, I address several reasons why we need to begin today.
1. Life is short. “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)
2. Life is measured by time. The Bible teaches that we need to measure our days that we may present a heart of wisdom. “So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12) To put this in perspective, pretend life is measured like a clock—if you are 20 years of age, it is only 6:00 a.m., if you are 40 years of age, the clock reads noon, if you are 60 years of age, then it’s 6:00 at night. If I live to be 80, I have 6,590 days left to live, serve Christ, and to make a difference in the lives of others.
3. Your life has value. “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.” (Psalm 139:14-16)
4. We must use time wisely. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15, 16)
In 2 Timothy 4, Paul is soon going to die. He writes to Timothy, his son in the faith, to come to him “before winter.” Why before winter? Because, once winter set in the docks would be closed and Timothy would be unable to go. There was a sense of longing and heartache in Paul’s voice as he wrote. The Bible never tells us if Timothy made the journey on time.
What do you need to do right now? Is there someone you need to visit, share your faith with, forgive, or express your love or gratitude toward? A few years ago, I was in a shopping mall near my hometown, and I noticed my dad talking to a man. Later, when dad entered the store, he told me the man he was speaking with was Brother Bob, my childhood pastor. I had not seen Bob in several years. Since that time, I had become a pastor of a large church in Florida—much larger than he had pastored. I wondered how Bob measured his ministry—had he accomplished what he planned to do for God? Could I be an encouragement to him? Now was my chance! But I froze—what would I say? I reasoned that I should have called him years ago and now it would just be embarrassing. By the time I finally found the courage to talk to him, he was gone, and though I promised myself I would call him, I never did. I just kept putting it off and sadly a few months later, Bob passed away. I lost my opportunity to thank him for being a good pastor to me.
What are you putting off? Know this—if you do not do what God leads you to do right away, the chances are high that you never will.
Do it right now!
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Leadership Principles of Jesus #3Leadership Principles of Jesus #4Leadership Principles of Jesus #5The Power of TruthThe Deity of ChristThe Incarnation—God With UsLíderes que perduran, primera parteLíderes que Duram, Parte 1Lideri care rezistă, Partea 1वे अगुवे जो टिके रहते हैं, भाग 1القادة الذين يدومون الجزء الأولLeaders Who Last Part 1Jesus Died for Our SinsResurrection and AscensionOvercoming the WorldThe Promise of PeaceThe Peace of GodThe Spirit of TruthPeace in the Midst of ConflictLíderes que perduran, parte 2Lideri care rezistă, Partea a 2-aLíderes que Duram, Parte 2वे अगुवे जो टिके रहते हैं, भाग 2القادة الذين يدومون الجزء الثانيLeaders Who Last Part 2Facing Doubt with Truth
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The Implications of Believing in GodThe Denial of God’s WordEmbracing the Truth for PeaceThe Tabernacle and the VeilThe Sacrifice of JesusBold Access to GodLideri care rezistă, Partea a 3-aLíderes que Duram, Parte 3Líderes que perduran, parte 3वे अगुवे जो टिके रहते हैं, भाग 3القادة الذين يدومون الجزء الثالثLeaders Who Last Part 3Peace in the Midst of TrialsPeace with GodThe Peace of GodLiving in PeaceComfort in Troubled TimesThe Promise of JoyLíderes que perduran, parte 4Joy Beyond CircumstancesLideri care rezistă, Partea a 4-aLíderes que Duram, Parte 4वे अगुवे जो टिके रहते हैं, भाग 4القادة الذين يدومون الجزء الرابعLeaders Who Last Part 4The Joy of Access to GodOvercoming Internal StrugglesThe Shepherd Who ComfortsExperiencing the Fullness of JoyBuilding RelationshipsThe Reality of PersecutionLideri care rezistă, Partea a 5-aLíderes que perduran, parte 5Líderes que Duram, Parte 5वे अगुवे जो टिके रहते हैं, भाग 5القادة الذين يدومون الجزء الخامسLeaders Who Last Part 5Obedience through LoveThe Importance of CommunityLove Your NeighborThe Reality of BelongingCelebration of CommunityExpecting OppositionThe Power of Seed PlantingStanding Firm in FaithLíderes que perduran, parte 6Lideri care rezistă, Partea a 6-aLíderes que Duram, Parte 6वे अगुवे जो टिके रहते हैं, भाग 6القادة الذين يدومون الجزء السادسLeaders Who Last Part 6Choosing Your MasterThe Example of HumilityThe Ultimate SacrificeResponding to God’s Call