As our life seasons change, what God plans for us and expects us
to get involved may change. We must keep listening to his direction and stay
alert for his guidance for change, so we are not stuck in the past, hung up on
what he asked us to do in a past season that’s no longer relevant.
As God’s dear children, we must be
attentive to hear what he asks us to do now, in this season. That’s why being
open-minded, flexible, and staying in tune with his spirit is critical to
getting direction for the today of our lives and not the yesterday.
I like to think of my life and plan
for it in decades, blocks of ten years. It’s easier to project for a short
enough time to prepare and a long enough time to execute. When I pray, I ask
God for wisdom, guidance, and direction for what to do and how to live the best
life is calling me to live each decade.
What should I do in my 20s, 30s and
40s? As I look back on each decade, I see how my plans and priorities have
changed and how God’s work through me has been redirected and evolved. This is
true for all humans; we must realign our focus and priority as our lives
change.
From finishing school, being single
and carefree, starting a career, raising a family, supporting parents, leading
an organization, gaining weight, becoming middle-aged, reforming society,
coaching other people’s kids, the list goes on. Each decade of our life brings
a new focus and significant changes.
Through all the changes each decade
brings, one thing remains constant – God and his love for us. If we center our
life around God at our core, navigating new waters of each decade of life is
more manageable.
So, what decade of your life are
you in now? 20s, 30s, 40s, 50, 60s, 70s? What changes have you observed in your
body, mind, and spirit? What changes have you observed in the world you live in
over the decades? What changes have you observed in how God has walked with
you, guided your life, and disciplined you? Based on where you are today,
projecting into the end of the decade you live in, what is God doing in you,
and how can you be a light in this world?
If you focus on where you are in
the timeline of life, you’ll understand your purpose for now, and you can focus
on living your best life for God in the moment you are in currently.
“There is a time for everything, and
a season for every activity under the heavens.” – Ecclesiastes 3: 1 (NIV)