Activating the Power of God’s Word

MOST PEOPLE LIVE in one of two places. Plagued by guilt, shame, and regret, some spend much of their time in the past, licking wounds, nursing hurts, or reliving mistakes. Others spend much of their time in the future, worrying about what is ahead, trying to resolve uncertain situations, or dreaming about opportunities and success.

While the past and the future are both very different places, neither actually exists. The past is merely a memory—a picture or video locked in the mind that is no longer tangible. The future, on the other hand, is nothing more than a fantasy—an imagination based on hopes, dreams, or even fears. But neither is it tangible. Neither the past nor the future can actually be lived in, yet so many of us try to live there and, in so doing, rob ourselves of the enjoyment of today. A renowned quote sums this up the best:

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.¹

—ALICE MORSE EARLE

Indeed, today—right now—is a present from God. But do you appreciate it as such? Take time to think about what is happening in your life in this moment. What is your attitude toward these things? Is it happiness, joy, and peace? Or is it stress, pain, and hurriedness? If you are similar to most, you will admit that your feelings are closer to the latter.

The truth is that most of us think of today as something—an obstacle, challenge, or necessary evil—to get through on the way toward a better day. We therefore rarely relish the present until it becomes another distant memory that we wish we could do over or relive. But even if we could jump ahead to a future day, it wouldn’t be what we hope. That is because the future depends on the experiences of the present. That is, there are things we must go through today that shape the outcome of the future. We might as well enjoy the process.

For too long we have contrasted enjoyment and godliness. Whether intended or not, it is often implied that holy living is serious and sober, while enjoyment is worldly and carnal. Consequently, for many the idea of enjoying life seems almost sinful.

I am not sure where this idea originated, but it didn’t come from God. Jesus didn’t die just to leave us miserable until we get to heaven. No, He revealed that one of the reasons He came to earth is for you and me to enjoy an abundant life here and now.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

—JOHN 10:10

Certainly what Jesus says here shouldn’t be mistaken for a life of mere fun and amusement or one in which everything is rosy. Rather, life here is the Greek word zōē, which is better defined as “a fully satisfied life that makes the most of every moment, regardless of the circumstances.” It is a life that finds peace in the midst of chaos, remains positive through seasons of sorrow, and holds to hope when there seems no reason to. To be sure, it is not a life immune from difficulties but one that rises above the influence of them.

Are you ready to possess this abundant life that Jesus died to give? Do you truly want to seize the day? Later in the chapter, I will give some simple strategies to start. But first you must be alerted to some definite present stealers—some habits to avoid or stop. Let’s explore several of these now.

This might sound contradictory, but it is possible that an obsession with what is going on around you actually hinders you from enjoying your life.

Today, because of our ever-present connectivity through social media and mobile devices, we are almost obsessively in tune with what is happening in other people’s lives. Log in to your favorite social network and what do you most often see? Pictures of smiling faces. Exciting adventures. Happy marriages. Major career advances. Everyone seems to be having the time of their lives. Everyone but you!

How does this make you feel? Depressed or anxious, most likely. The buzzword to describe this is FOMO, the fear of missing out.² Psychologists say that our constant connectedness creates a fear in people that they are missing out on something that everyone else is enjoying. This has at least a couple of negative effects. First, it causes comparison and keeps people under constant pressure to live like everyone else and to have what they have. Second, it feeds our digital addictions. We stay glued to our devices, stuck in an endless loop of refreshing our favorite social media accounts.

It is sad: we are often so engulfed in a world that doesn’t exist that we disregard the people and events that are actually around us.

“You are not doing enough!” Ever heard that nagging notion? I have. In fact, I admit that I am often at battle with a voice that blares, “You are not productive enough!” “You are not achieving enough!” and even “You are not accomplishing enough for God!”

Sure, drive is an admirable quality to possess. But as with anything, a good quality taken to extremes becomes a very dangerous quality. And those of us who are especially ambitious and driven toward goals have the tendency to get incredibly frustrated if we feel we are not making constant headway toward the mission.

The symptoms of this are often pathetic. I have made myself feel guilty for watching TV or lying down for a nap, regardless of what I achieved that day. I could have preached a sermon or authored an article that impacted thousands, but still a voice will nag, “You could be doing more.”

Do you see how this steals your present? When you are so consumed with where you think you need to be, the simple joys and necessities of everyday life—relationships, fun, and rest—are viewed as distractions that don’t contribute to where you are going. So you are made to feel guilty when you engage in them. That is no way to live!

Many people live on hold. That is, they living waiting for a certain situation or person to come along before they will allow themselves to be satisfied. It sounds similar to these statements:

If God has planted any of these desires in your heart, then absolutely pray and work toward them. But don’t live for them. By this I mean don’t make them an idol. If education, marriage, children, a career, or any other life event is your benchmark for arriving, then you will possibly miss out on what God wants to teach or do through you in this season.

There are lots of joys to be experienced in this present moment. You can do things now that you can’t do at other stages of life—when you have a spouse, children, or a higher-responsibility job. Don’t waste this moment by wishing for another. The notion that you aren’t happy or whole until you arrive at a certain situation only robs you of appreciating what God has given you today.

I recall a particular time when I was hurt by someone who I felt consistently made disparaging comments about me. In hindsight I was likely oversensitive to some of it, but in the moment the remarks greatly offended me. Eventually I decided that I just didn’t want to be around or hear about this person. This wasn’t easy, however, because he and I were in a similar social circle with various friends in common. In short, I had to go to great lengths to avoid him or the mention of him!

I suppose that in some weird sort of way, I thought my avoidance would get him back for the things he said. But in truth he didn’t even realize I was upset. All it did was make life much more complicated for me! Finally, more than a year later, the Lord spoke to me and said, “Kyle, I can’t do the things you are asking me to do in your life if you continue to entangle yourself in this bitterness.” Of course, the Lord was right. For the quality of my own life I needed to rid myself of this bitterness and seek forgiveness, which I did the next day.

The Bible speaks to this: “Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you” (Heb. 12:15, NLT). Indeed, as I experienced, bitterness rarely affects someone else, but given enough attention, it will grow to give you trouble. Health studies support this truth. Bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness can affect people physically with issues such as high blood pressure and heart disease.³ At the least, these kill our quality of life by choking out any present happiness with anger, envy, and a bad attitude.

In chapter 6 I mentioned that scholars believe the Book of Psalms is intentionally arranged to tell the story of Israel’s history with God. It is a fascinating study on its own. Each of the five books that make up the Psalms takes readers on the emotional journey of the nation coming to terms with God as their one, true King.

By books four and five (Psalms 90–150), there is a decided shift from the rest of the book. Largely the tone moves from lament and want to praise and thanksgiving. Notice in these final psalms that Israel makes a crucial decision that regardless of their situation they are going to praise God. Accordingly the remainder of Psalms is filled with sweeping faith declarations. One of my favorites is the determination to rejoice in the present day.

This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

—PSALM 118:24

Understand that the declaration here isn’t so much a reflection that their situation had suddenly changed. Rather, they changed their perspective about the situation. Their newfound decision to be thankful for the day was key to their present joy. And it is the same for you and me. You can’t change every situation, but you can rise above the chaos and rejoice in whatever life brings. Here are some simple strategies that will help.

After Solomon’s temple was ravaged and the people scattered into foreign lands, Israel eventually had another opportunity to come together and to rebuild a second temple. They set out excitedly but got only as far as laying the foundation before opposition set in and the work stalled. With the project lingering in its infancy, the people became discouraged.

When it seemed the second temple would never get off the ground, God spoke into the situation and renewed His people’s hope. Through the prophet Zechariah, He encouraged them not to be discouraged by a small beginning but to rejoice that the work was beginning (Zech. 4:10). In other words, God instructed Israel to celebrate the stage of the journey they were in—even if it was step one of one hundred.

I have had to take these words to heart many times. For years as I thought about the call of God to do what I am doing now—writing books, speaking, and using media for ministry—I became daunted by my grand visions but meager means. Still today, when the journey seems slow or overwhelming, God’s words in Zechariah keep me going: “Don’t despise these small beginnings, but rejoice that the work has begun.”

God says the same to you. Celebrate your progress in whatever stage of the plan you find yourself. Certainly dream and prepare, but don’t become frightened or discouraged by the road ahead. Step by step, day by day, the Lord will advance you toward what He has called you to do. Join God in His delight that the work has begun!

This is a hard truth for a driven person like me to write. But it is a fact: God wants us to rest.

At the beginning of human history God instituted a law of rest known as a day of sabbath. He knew of the people’s tendency to find identity in their work. This was especially true in the days before Jesus, when works were the basis of one’s acceptance by God. But God ordained the Sabbath to force people to rest, which Jesus later revealed, “was made to meet the needs of people” (Mark. 2:27, NLT). In other words, God knows that we need to rest, so He established the Sabbath not so much as a law but as a lifesaver.

Certainly this doesn’t mean that you should become a sluggard. But this is permission to have completely unproductive moments and not feel guilty about them. Hear this: God says it is OK to take a break! Go to a ball game. Watch a decent movie. Enjoy a vacation. Set aside an evening to laugh with loved ones. You won’t miss your destiny from a little downtime. Instead, you might just enrich it with memories to enjoy when you get there.

A few years ago the Lord spoke to me about changing my somewhat cynical perspective of the world. He reminded me that His Holy Spirit is at work all the time, everywhere, and in every person. Therefore, rather than look at people and situations through the lens of “How is the devil working here?” I was challenged to discern, “How is the Holy Spirit working here?”

By focusing on the work of the Holy Spirit rather than the work of the devil, I began to value each moment as an opportunity for God’s transformation in people and situations that I otherwise might have written off. This isn’t always easy, and it definitely takes a retraining of the mind, but being tuned in to God’s work helps to overcome the negativity of the 24/7 news cycle and remain positive through what is going on around you.

You can also use this perspective for how you view your own life. What struggles do you currently face? Know that God hasn’t left you to deal with these by yourself. No, His Holy Spirit is at work in you even now, transforming you to be more like Jesus (2 Cor. 3:18). When you recognize the evidence of God’s work in your life, you will begin to be excited about the day as one step closer to your breakthrough.

Paul gives perhaps the single greatest instruction to enjoy your life, which provides a great conclusion for this chapter: “Be content with what you have” (Heb. 13:5). This is absolutely crucial! You will never enjoy the present if you are envious of what someone else has or if you are chasing the dangling carrot of more and more and more.

I know that to some contentment seems like a bad word. Perhaps you think that to be content means to settle or even to give up. But that is not the meaning at all! To be content simply means that you have found a place of peaceful satisfaction with what you have and where you are in the moment. It means that you don’t despise today and aren’t desperate for tomorrow, but that you appreciate what God is doing right now.

Finally, to be content, you must count your blessings! Maybe that sounds cliché, but its truth is significant nonetheless. It is great to look ahead and believe God for a better situation, but as you dream, take a few moments to be thankful for the blessings God has given you. Living contentedly and thankfully helps you truly enjoy life and fully appreciate today for the gift it is.^*

#ActivateTheWord

I enjoy my life.

The past is over, the future isn’t here, and so I will fully live in the present moment that I am given. Whatever this day holds, I won’t complain or be angry. I won’t compare my life to anyone else’s, but I am thankful for and content with the ways God has uniquely blessed me. This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it!