I had a friend was a big baseball player
back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool boy
Saw him the other night at this roadside bar
I was walking in, he was walking out
We went back inside sat down had a few drinks
but all he kept talking about was
Glory days well they’ll pass you by
Glory days in the wink of a young girl’s eye
Glory days, glory days
As I think about those lyrics, I can’t help but look forward to the new year, which begins in just two days. It’s almost unbelievable to me that 2015 is just about over. Time passes much too quickly. As I ponder a new year, I wonder how many people aren’t looking ahead but are just stuck in the past, similar to the main character in Springsteen’s song. Perhaps you are one of those people. Perhaps you aren’t excited about the opportunities (and maybe even challenges) that lie ahead. Perhaps you are preoccupied with what should have been, with what could have been, with what used to be. It seems to me that there are far too many people that are stuck in the past instead of looking to the future. If you are one of those people, can I submit something to you? To be stuck in the past is to miss the opportunities of the present. I am not telling you to forget about the past, but I am telling you to avoid living in it. If you don’t find a way to move forward, you’ll never be all that God desires for you to be, and you certainly will never accomplish all that He has for you to do.
I preached a sermon this past week from Esther 4 that included three things not to do in order to avoid the trap of living in the past. Here they are:
- Don’t be daunted. Moving forward means lots of opportunities, and even some challenges. They won’t be easy, but serving the Lord wasn’t meant to be easy. Quite honestly, it is one of the most difficult things you’ll ever do, but the upside is great. There might be days where you walk in the valley but you can have the reassurance that you’re never walking alone. When you are serving the Lord and are in the center of His will there is no need to be scared or daunted at the task before you, because you know you are not “going it alone”. Just like the Lord used regular people like Moses, Gideon, and David, he can use us too to accomplish great things for His Kingdom, but we’ve got to be willing to step out and do the heavy lifting. Let’s be a people of faith and not of fear in this new year.
- Don’t doubt the divine call. There are things that you will be called to do. Callings that will come from the Lord Himself. Don’t doubt those calls. When the Lord call you to something, have the assurance of knowing that He will also bring you through it. Be prepared to answer His call. Now remember that not all promptings or callings are from God. A divine call is a call that can only come from God Himself. So how do you know when He is calling? That brings me to my third sand final “don’t”.
- Don’t deviate from the essentials. You want to make sure that God is really speaking to you and discern what He is actually saying? Then it’s time to get back to basics. Fasting, praying, and reading Scripture all on a consistent, regular basis. Fasting will drive you to your knees quicker than anything I know. Don’t believe me? Go without food and drink for one day. I dare you. Once you’re on your knees praying for His strength and wisdom, you will be amazed at what the Lord does not only in your life, but for others whose behalf you are fasting and praying. Sometimes we crave the “deeper” things of God that we forget the essentials. If we really want to move forward, then it’s time to get re-rooted in the foundations of our faith.
So, that’s it. That’s my grand plan. More of a list of what not to do as opposed to what to do, but important all the same. As we approach a new year, it’s time to move forward into exciting new areas of service that the Lord wants us. It’s time to blaze new trails. Simply put, it’s time to get going. You can’t get going if you don’t let go. Otherwise, you will end up missing the blessings and you will be left with nothing but stories of what could have been. Don’t get caught up in trying to go back to the “glory days”, because we might miss the glory days that are right in front of us.
Let’s get going. I love you.
JP.
p.s. If some of you want to relive the glory days of “The Boss’” hey-day, here you go. You’re welcome.
