The Tango of the Two Realities
From time to time, Christ Compels is honored by having some of our friends be guest devotionalists. This week, please help us welcome Lorie Looney Keene!
Written by: Lorie Looney Keene,
Author of Pull Up a Chair: You, Me, and the Gospel of John
Check it out at www.christianbooks.com
I once heard a pastor speak about balancing the “now” and the “not yet.” His sermon was regarding our present state in a world consumed with a dated calendar and our eternal existence unrestrained by time. I suggest that we also engage in a different tango of two realities: who we are at the present and who God has destined us to become. I call this a tango because it is indeed a dance that we all must master. Should we become too confused with one aspect of the process at the neglect of the other, our lives will become unbalanced.
As women, we are especially prone to disrupting this harmony. We tend to be over-achievers, wanting to not only conquer today but next month and year, as well. This tenacity may serve us well in scholastics, but it may actually diminish our ability to discover joy in the unfolding of God’s plan.
The balance may be affected by an individual’s inability to find a correct focus or the misguided advice or instruction from a well-meaning mentor/teacher. For instance, if someone focuses all of her time on daydreaming about where and how the Lord is going to use her in future ministry, she may very well neglect the day to day opportunities He has planned for her now. We must be grounded in the daily illustrations of God’s purpose for our lives, as well as the potential future endeavors. It is through the daily opportunities that we are being molded into His vision of our future selves.
We are also wise to sift discerningly through the advice and compliments of others. A favorite teacher or friend may see incredible potential in us and tend to lavish grand desires on our future. This is an easy trap to fall into. We may find ourselves enjoying the attention of others and become caught up in the dreams created by fellow humans more tightly than the ones that are derived solely from an intimate walk with the Lord.
In order to promote a more healthy balance, therefore, we can be intentional in our focus on how the Lord is using us today and what He is teaching us as individuals. The individual virtues, talents, and characteristics He is forming in you today will be highly valuable in what He has in store for your tomorrow. If we want to be best prepared to be women who are sold out to Him in future service, we must first learn to hold fast to the lessons of today.
Pray with us at Christ Compels: Dear Lord, help us to hold fast to the lessons of today. Don’t let us overlook daily opportunities. We don’t go from infancy to mighty women for You overnight. We focus on today. Today You want to refine us. Today You want to mold us. Today You want to use us for Your kingdom. Help us to be intentional for Your glory today.
Likewise, help us to embrace the tango dance for our “not yet.” There is some place that You are taking us…Some purpose that You desire to fulfill in our lives. We pray that each one of us will fulfill all that You have planned for us. It is not crafted by man but designed by You. So help us to not fall into the trap of others’ plans for our lives instead of Your perfect plan. We pray all of this in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus Christ! Amen