Grasp the Momentনমুনা

Grasp the Moment by Rocky Fleming

DAY ONE

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 

When was the last time you just stopped, took a few breaths and let out a sigh to offer a whisper of thanksgiving? I’m talking about something like a real busy person would do once he or she finished a grueling project. The last stroke of a keyboard, or the last nail in a board, or the finishing touch on a long project is an example of the joyful relief that I’m talking about. Would you busily run through that moment, or would you take some time to soak it in? You would likely sit, rest, breathe in deeply, and enjoy the moment, and not hurry from it. You would grasp the moment for life seems to offer few of them doesn’t it? Let’s change this.

Have you ever heard these words? “Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.” These words come from what is known as the Westminster Catechism. They were written in 1647 by a group of English and Scottish theologians and laymen with the objective to bring the Church of England into greater conformity with the Church of Scotland. I think it is interesting to note that unity within the church is best accomplished by the Church’s understanding about mankind’s true purpose. In other words, we need to get on the same page. I think we all understand that our mission is to bring glory to God. But do we also understand that it is our mission as followers of Christ to “enjoy Him . . . forever?” When was the last time you simply enjoyed God? It is important for us to do this . . . to enjoy Him. I agree that it is one of mankind’s chief ends. Therefore, I am asking you this week to do just that. Rest, breathe in, whisper a prayer, and enjoy Him as we move forward. He invites you to do this.

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us…” Acts 17:26-27

The aim of this devotional is to provide a means for you to interact with the Holy Spirit through scriptures and questions I will bring to you on the subject. I have often said that Christians are spiritually anemic if they are not self-feeders on God’s word. Therefore, our discipleship process focuses on helping men and women become self-feeders. It is a little challenging at first. But the dividends we get in return with wisdom and direction in life will be the best deal we will ever have.  

I mentioned the importance and need to take time to soak in our relationship with God. So many Christians, and men especially, do not take time to enjoy Him this way. What we do not understand is that in hurrying through life as we do, we miss an amazing enabling to face busy schedules, demanding timelines, and critical decisions. Instead, we try to “figure out” life on our own and generally fail to do our best. Think of the many times you could not solve a complex problem or come up with a satisfactory solution only to leave it and in some way see an answer a few days later? In a similar way, we take a break and allow our world to slow down around us so we can see things differently. It is not a waste of time to rest before the Lord. In fact, it creates time that is generally lost to frustration and wrong decisions that have to be repaired because we did not take time to grasp the moment.

So I ask you to go with me on this new attempt to take you to closer proximity with Jesus. I ask you to interact with your King the next few days on the subject and let Him teach you how to grasp the moment with Him. As we go forward, you will get into the rhythm, and the flow from Him to you will begin to pour. How do I know this? It is because I will join you in this, and I have always found Him to be faithful to show up when we seek Him.