DEVOTION: What do you see for tomorrow?

I’ve been reflecting on my life over the last few days, as people are sometimes wont to do at the start of a new the year. There were so many things that I started last year: a Personal Performance Coaching diploma, learning how to swim and how to ride a bike. I realise that I am very good at starting projects but not that good at finishing what I start. I want to be a published author (obviously); I need to lose weight (at the time of writing I am on Day 11 of a 28 day juice fast and I can tell you some days I really crave a hot meal especially as winter is here with a vengeance and I’m focusing my all on reaching the finish line)! I realise that a lot of the struggles I have has to do with my mind-set. Anyway last night I read a Chinese proverb sentence on a website that really spoke to me.

The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second best time is now.

I confess I do have a tendency to procrastinate but I have reached a point in my life, where I realise that if I am going to achieve what I want out of life; what I believe the Lord has placed in my heart to do, I have to take action. So I went to Him about it and the Holy Spirit gave me this scripture:

Without a divinely inspired mental picture, the people cast of all restraint. Proverbs 29:18

Jesus is our example. He came to reveal the Father to man and to destroy the works of the devil. His earthly life teaches us how we are supposed to live and what we should aspire to. Thank God that everything we need is provided to us on the basis of the cross. And thank God that we are saved by His grace and not by any works that we can do, but we are expected to use the gifts He has given us to further His purposes on the earth and to bring Him glory.

So I thought about Jesus in light of Proverbs 29:18 and realised that everything He did had purpose. He knew who He was and what He came to earth to do so all His choices were deliberate. He made choices, went places and did things that moved Him in a specific direction. I will probably meditate on this for the next month or so. I am looking at my life and choices with a very critical eye and noticing that while I do work long hours and don’t feel like doing much at the end of the day, I do find the time to do the things that I like to do. Time is fleeting and as we get older we may not be presented with as many opportunities or have the strength to do the things we may now take for granted. As January draws to a close, let’s take stock of our lives and how we spend our time, and maybe ask ourselves some difficult questions.

Almighty Father, give me a divinely inspired mental picture for my life. Give me the wisdom and grace to make the right choices that will move me closer each day to fulfilling Your purpose for my life. In Jesus Name. Amen.