Forget Yesterday, Embrace NOW

Photo Credit: Axiraa/Creative Commons

How easy it is to dwell on the past. To unearth old seasons from yesterday’s memories.  We might recall special days spent with loved ones. Meaningful moments long since passed. Times of success…or days of discouragement. The thing about reflecting too much on yesterday is that it makes it difficult to embrace now.

So why do it?

I think it’s because sometimes we just can’t help ourselves. It’s only natural to focus on “feel good” memories, just like other things, too, we’d love to go back and “fix.” Embracing now seems tougher. Today, we’re confronted with the same issues that plagued earlier generations, but news travels faster. With the advancement in technology, society’s ills are now broadcast through a variety of means in instantaneous, in-your-face fashion. Our safe, little “bubbles” are suddenly penetrable and less apt to protect us from all that bombards us on a daily basis. Even as Christians, we grow weary of “bad news.” Our spirits sag; our resolve trembles. We trust Christ, but not our circumstances.

How then are we to stay upbeat and focused?

When the season of disillusionment seems long and never-ending, how do we not fall into the pit of despair? How do we forget yesterday and embrace now?

We pull out all the stops and borrow a page from Barney Fife! The page called “Bud- Nipping.”

Here’s what it says: 

• We identify our joy-stealers.

What is it that’s crashing our party? Is it negativity on television? Naysayers in the workplace? Life circumstances beyond our control? When we determine what’s casting a cloud over our sunlit paths, it’s a bit easier to launch a plan of attack. While it’s important to stay up-to-speed with current events, it’s not necessary (or healthy) to superglue ourselves to television and other media 24/7. Because God grants us free will, we get to choose what we allow to infiltrate our minds. The old diddy “garbage in, garbage out” is not just a cute witticism. It’s true! (And a word about naysayers: while we can’t control others’ words, actions, or negative diatribes, we can control our reaction to them.) It’s one thing to empathize with those who are going through a rough patch, but it’s entirely another to fuel dissent. Being subjected to rants doesn’t qualify us as good listeners. It hardens our hearts and skews our perceptions. Life circumstances, too, can rain on our parade. They can, in fact, cause monsoons! Cancer is real. Job loss happens. Death robs. Divorce destroys. And although these things can indeed be gut-wrenching battles, somewhere in the midst of our despair, we must give it to God. In the natural, it may seem hopeless, but for our supernatural, all-knowing, ever-present, miracle-working Heavenly Father, there’s always hope! As the Great Physician, His specialty is mending, healing, and restoring upside down, inside out lives.

• We scratch the “loser” mentality and develop a winning mindset.

Focus on the present, but look toward the future. We think like “winners” when we can pause in the moment and anticipate the outcome. Mindsets like can’t, won’t, never, if only do nothing to advance us. They create fear. They stagnate. Winners realize that situations are temporary. Winners value lessons learned. Winners roll the dice and they let God move the mountains. In other words, winners take healthy risks and trust the outcome to the One in charge.

• Irresponsibility. Ditch it. Prepare for a new season.

Would we expect 90 degree weather in the middle of February? (Not where I’m from!) How about snow in July? (Again, not in my neck of the woods.) Rose blooms in winter? (Hmmm. Maybe if grown indoors.) The point is we approach life much like we do the changing seasons. We accept the fact that we may need an umbrella in the springtime or sunblock in the summer. We use deductive reasoning. We use good judgment. Because of our experience with what we know, we make logical choices. If the sun comes out, we remove our raincoat–it’s common sense. Why would approaching a new season in life be any different? If we know we’re in for an uphill climb, that’s good. If we know and prepare, that’s better. Seasons may bring surprises and they may seem long. Never-ending. For those who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, impasses seem insurmountable, but for those who do know Him, we recognize there’s a brighter season ahead!  It’s easier (notice I didn’t say easy) to forget yesterday and embrace now when we realize we’ll always have memories. Good and bad. We don’t have to dwell on what’s past. We’re at the threshold of something wondrous and new. I know. I’ve lived it. And one day, I’ll share more.

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What season are you in?

How are you embracing your NOW?

PLEASE SHARE

Today I’m doing a little bud-nipping. Please join me! (Click to Tweet)

What’s past is past. You’re at the threshold of something new! (Click to Tweet)

How to move forward without feeling guilty: (Click to Tweet)

Photo Credit: Axiraa/Creative Commons

Blessings Always,