Jeremy Camp - The Story's Not Over Devotional Series Sample

5. Keep Me In The Moment 

The older I get the faster time seems to fly by. No matter what I do, I can’t seem to slow it down. I watch as my kids grow older and I’m often reminded of how much I want to be present and available for them. I don’t want to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life, and make the mistake of looking and living so far ahead that I miss what God has for me today. I realize my wife, Adrienne, and I only have a few more years until our oldest daughter Bella graduates and it has made us want to be deeply intentional to make the most of our time with her and our other kids.

It’s so easy to get stuck in a rut of days and weeks flying by, but we want to live our lives making the most of every opportunity. I want to put my phone down more and engage with my kids. The outside world can wait, while I choose to pay attention to who is in my life in this moment.

I don’t want to be chasing things that don’t matter in the moment and miss the ones who do.

An old spiritual song said this:

“Slow me down, Lawd, I’se agoin’ too fast,

I can’t see my brother when he’s walking past.

I miss a lot of good things day by day, 

I don’t know a blessing when it comes my way.

Slow me down, Lawd. 

I want to see, more of the things that are good for me.

A little less of me and a little more of You,

I want the heavenly atmosphere to trickle through.” (Unknown)

When we slow down and pay more attention to God’s agenda and not our own, when our focus is on building His kingdom and not our own, we foster better habits of living with an eternal perspective and focus on the things that will last into eternity. I pray God will keep our perspectives focused on the people that matter most. May we have His eyes to see and a greater desire to love well.

“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV)