Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.

In 2022, Brooke and I stepped into a wild new adventure. The birth of our first child has brought a whole new perspective on life, complete with unique challenges and unexpected joys. One of my favorite parts of watching our daughter grow is witnessing all the developmental milestones. I probably get way more excited than I should when I see her do new things. I’ve noticed, however, that in my excitement to help her grow and develop and achieve the next thing, I can miss how special the current thing is.

Slow down. Don’t rush. I have to remind myself of that almost every day.

I think this is an important reminder for all of us, no matter what season or situation we are in. Pay attention to where you are and what is in front of you. It’s so easy to get distracted by what is next that we miss what is now.

In Matthew 17, we see Jesus giving Peter, James, and John a glimpse of what is next. As the 4 friends pull away together, Jesus gives the 3 Apostles a picture of eternal glory. What a sight it must have been to see Jesus shine as bright as the sun on top of a mountain! This was undoubtedly an incredible moment for the Apostles, but they could not live there. They had to come down from the mountain, literally and figuratively, because there were still present needs to be met. The future was exciting to see, but the present held plenty of opportunities for the miraculous.

As believers, we look forward to the day when we step into eternal life and see the full glory of Christ. How can we not look forward to a promise of no more pain or sorrow or death, a promise of complete joy and satisfaction and peace? There is nothing greater. But we have to resist the temptation to get so focused on the future that we miss the opportunities of the present – opportunities to show His glory to the world around us.

Take two minutes to reflect in silence.

Reflections:

• What opportunities has God given you today to show His goodness?