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This is a great week to reflect on 2012, and begin preparations for 2013 in earnest. The highs and lows of the past year may be fresh in your mind, but what should our posture be for 2013? At dinner an evening ago my wife, daughter and I talked about one thing we each need to change for next year. To help challenge your thinking, let me share one of my 2013 goals that I shared with them over dinner. It was something that I articulated in a post earlier this year.

Without much effort, I can create too many options for too little time. And then I find myself frustrated with the quick pace, crammed schedule and being mentally distracted. Well, who is to blame for all of that? … I think you know the answer. To live in the moment is a phrase I could speak convincingly about, but too often they are words that resonate in my soul more as cliché than reality. It is my assumption that your schedule, pace and mental distractedness may, in a small way, resemble mine. Therefore, I would like to challenge you with a radical shift that causes you (and I) to embrace God moment by moment.

Let me illustrate my point. During a vacation/part business meeting last summer, I found myself not enjoying the moments as much as I was trying to control them (still recovering as a type-A personality). But then something happened that brought living in the moment to the forefront of my mind. At a big party on the last night of the meeting, my daughter grabbed my hand and then cajoled and badgered me to come out onto an already crowded dance floor with her and her mom. Nothing could be further from my comfort zone … NOTHING! Nothing on that trip will be remembered as much as the laughter (at non-rhythmic dad) and fun that we had in those few moments, and to think I almost missed it. Remember, a moment lost is just that … lost.

Living in the moment seems elusive in our fast-paced world. My daughter’s dance lesson illustrated to me the awesome power of a moment, and also how easily it can be lost by our frailties and fears.  Now, every week is not a vacation or big party, but every week is filled with countless moments given to us by God to be cherished. It is easy for all of us to use the pace of our life and busy schedules as an excuse. And it doesn’t take much energy to be diverted by yesterday’s failures and tomorrow’s fears. But when I (and you) live in the moment, excuses aren’t necessary. In his book, God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg shares that the greatest moment of your life is right now. We cannot change yesterday, nor control tomorrow.

So how are we to live in the moment when the pace of the world we live in is not likely to slow any time soon? Our schedules will be full, demands will seek to overwhelm us, our minds will be pulled in a hundred directions and we will have a million reasons to excuse our weariness. But if we choose to relish the moments, perspective can come, our minds will relax and our souls will quiet down. Believers in Christ are to be people of joy, radically embracing God’s design for each moment. It is a matter of faith to enjoy Him with each moment, while trusting Him with all of the demands we face. Another quote from God Is Closer Than You Think gives us clear perspective on understanding how to live in the moment.

We are not meant to embrace moments, but to embrace God. Moments are not always good; God is never anything else but good. Moments are simply the place where we meet Him.

Not tomorrow, but right now, embrace God in each moment. It’s all we are guaranteed. I illustrated my crazy dance lesson because I struggle, just like you. God gave me a moment to enjoy my daughter, and I almost missed it!

When you and I consciously seek to embrace God in each and every moment, something will be different. It will be challenging, but when we embrace God’s design for each moment, we’ll not be as bound to the issues of yesterday and tomorrow. We will all battle our fast-paced world until He comes. But we can seek to embrace Him in each moment!  Remember a moment lost is just that … lost!

In 2013, I will seek to embrace God in each moment … will you join me?  Our emphasis at Journey onWord is to encourage and provide opportunity for you to be in God’s Word daily.  Our chronological reading through the Bible in 2013 will do just that.  Will you join us in our desire to capture a moment(s) each day to meet Him in and through His Word?  Sign up today (if you don’t already get our weekly notices on the Daily Bible reading schedule) at the JourneyonWord.com site.  You’ll find a section on the right menu, titled “Subscribe”.  Click the link in that section and enter your email name when prompted to receive the weekly Bible reading schedule as well as automatic email alerts for our twice weekly devotional posts.  God bless as we begin anew in 2013!