Do you ever think about the past, spend time thinking about the sweet memories of yesteryear?
Your birthday is a perfect time to do some self-examination, an assessment of the last year.
But we can fall into that pit of reviewing more of the bad things than the sweet ones—our mistakes, our sins, our really bad moments, and the bad things that were done unto us.
A week ago, I did the birthday self-assessment. I looked backward, and I sought God for the forward. And then I had a revelation.
As we age, we seem to spend a lot of time looking backward, at the regrets, the inability to measure up physically to the person we used to be.
Then the Lord in His graciousness revealed something to me that perhaps He’s already revealed to you.
Here are some notes I wrote in my journal—
“Lord, in some many ways, I hate growing old, even though I know with each passing day, month and year I get closer to eternity with You. And I suppose that should make me rejoice with each extra candle. Knowing how much joy You must take in knowing your children’s journeys on earth are winding down, until full renewal and the fullness of time results in a restored body and life that won’t flinch or pale at length of days.
“So why do I live and breathe and behave as though this is it? I want to walk toward You, in joy, in peace, in hope, in Longing, thrilled anticipation of that glorious, perfect day. I want to rejoice over moving toward perfection rather than wallowing in and lamenting my failures. I want to move on, with a heart saturated to overflowing with happiness and peace.
“…It is good. It is enough!”
The little red journal I’m using right now has Scripture verses at the bottom of each page. I read them after I’ve written that day’s inklings. The verse at the bottom of the first page I wrote on for my birthday was this:
“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day” (Proverbs 4:18).
A perfect verse for what the Lord had laid on my heart to ponder.
My path is a shining light. Only I can allow it to be darkened by my thoughts, attitude and behavior.
God is the light that shines on that path.
And that shining light will shine brighter and brighter as I move toward the perfect day—the day when the Lord will renew Heaven and Earth, and I will be counted among the happy citizens of His Kingdom. In a body designed to work and live and rejoice forever!
With those facts planted in my heart, why would I not enjoy the walk down the path, toward the brighter light? Why would I not look forward to that day when I will be absent from my body and present with the Lord?
Why would I not embrace every added year?
I should embrace every year, even as my body fails and abilities decrease. And that’s my goal this year: to be focusing on that light and have my heart set on eternity.
May your paths shine brighter and brighter, and may you be looking forward toward the brighter light, not at the dull one behind you.
Meditation Mondays will be going on hiatus until April 1, so I can focus on recovering from my recent knee surgery. I’ll have a way for you to sign up to receive these posts, and in return, I’ll have a freebie for you to enjoy!
See you back here next month!
Blessings,
Andrea
“Certainly there was an Eden….We all long for it, and we are constantly glimpsing it.” —J.R.R. Tolkien