The New vs. The Now
Tina W.
Tech changes gone wrong become business operations problems and costs, but there is another way! [email protected]
(Re-posted here from my blog - https://www.tinaclarice.com/blog)
The New vs. the Now - December 28, 2022
The contrast of “the new” vs. “the now” is best understood when we consider things that we put off until “tomorrow.”? We may be waiting for a new day, a new job, a new relationship, a new year. However, our delay in waiting for “the new” is typically just an excuse for putting something off that we can, but do not want to, address today.?
The reasons we may not want to address certain things now may vary - we are afraid we will fail, we are afraid we don’t have what it takes, we don’t want to exert the discipline it will take to accomplish the task, we are simply being lazy, etc.? There is no “magic” in “the new,” but rather it is in “the now.”? If we are afraid, undisciplined, or lazy today, we will be afraid, undisciplined, or lazy tomorrow too.? If we are afraid, undisciplined, or lazy in our current job, we will be afraid, undisciplined, or lazy in the next job too.?
In talking to my husband about this blog, he recalled how he would see a bunch of people in the gym the first couple of weeks of each new year.? After two weeks, the gym numbers were back to the norm.? All the folks who made new year’s resolutions about going to the gym frequently to work out, fell off after just a couple of weeks.? There is no “magic” in “the new.”? We have grace and new mercies for “the now.” Even when the Lord tells us that He is about to do a new thing, or bring us into a new season, it is no excuse for us not to continue “occupying” (doing business) now while we wait for the new things and season.?
领英推荐
Waiting and being still are not apathetic, lethargic, procrastinating words/phrases, but rather they reflect walking by faith, seeking, knocking, asking, obeying, standing firm, digging to a firm foundation (Christ) and building on that foundation.? These are all the actions we can and should be doing NOW.? It can take quite a while to accomplish various tasks or form new habits, so why not start now so that when “the new '' comes, you already have forward momentum??
There is always going to be some element of “the now” that is not ideal, and we can be tempted to think that when “the new” comes and removes that not ideal thing, then we will be ready and positioned to take action.? I remember earlier this year when I prayed about wanting to have time to kick back, relax in a sweatshirt and slippers in November and December.? I wanted God to have sorted out all the investment and new customers for my ventures such that I felt comfortable enough to kick back and relax.? I was afraid to rest or slow down until I saw the new things.? However, the Lord spoke to me saying that if I needed rest, I should take it “now” not when I got new investments, or new customers, or new contracts.? It takes faith to rest.? It takes discipline to exercise that faith. I took a pause then, put on a sweatshirt, and slippers, sat in my rocking chair, and read part of a book.? I did this in faith.? Now, as we are in December, the Lord delivered and continues to deliver on new investments, new customers, and new contracts.?
We have only a few days remaining in 2022, but let’s make full use of those days.? Whatever you have determined you should do in the new year, start now, and watch the Lord work.