Recognizing Your Invisible MentorsSample

YOUR LIFE IS NOW

Though our circumstances in life may not be as dramatic as what Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced, we will likely be confronted with the question of how willing we are to embrace impossibilities without denying the present moment of difficulty. 

In Scripture, God always refers to Himself in first person, present tense: “I Am…” Why? Because He is always in the present. Though we may fear our circumstances or current messes, they do not faze God. We may try to ignore them, forget them, or not deal with them, but we can be confident in God’s ability to solve them. Therefore, He remains present with us in the midst of the trials, just as He was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 

We have been created in the image of God, designed to experience life in present tense. When we deny our present experiences and live in past memories (good or bad) or idealistic ideas of what the future could look like, we keep ourselves from truly living as we were created to live. We go through the motions of life, which after a while leave us numb and paralyzed, unable to perceive current situations accurately. 

A dear friend and mentor Lou Tice gave me insight into experiencing true freedom by living in the “now moments.” He said: 

"The present is all I ever have. There is never a time when my life is not “this moment.” When I feel the uneasiness, anxiety, tension, stress, and worry—they are all forms of fear and are caused by too much future and not enough present. When I feel guilt, regret, resentment, sadness, bitterness, and all forms of non-forgiveness, they are caused by me focusing too much on the past and not enough on the present. The basic problem is the attachment of my mind to the past and the future and the denial of the now. My present is the key to my freedom. I do not let my mind create an obsession with the future as an escape from the present. My life is now!"

Take a moment to reread that statement. Adopt it into your life. Integrate it into your daily decisions. Today will never repeat itself; today is all you have. 

Hear the drumroll of heaven beckoning you to take a step toward your new freedom of living in the now. Your life will become more authentic with each decision you make to live in the present. The fire will test your beliefs and expose your weaknesses, but it will solidify your character. When authenticity and character meet in the fire of your impossibilities, the façade of self-righteousness and self-indulgence will start to burn away. Each step through the fire becomes a part of your dance—filled with God’s grace. 

Jesus is present in your now moments. You are not alone!

PERSONAL REFLECTION EXERCISE:  

1. Take the time to define your WHY.    
2. Why do you do what you do? What is your motivation?   
3. Are the daily actions and beliefs you portray congruent with your inner thoughts and feelings?    
4. If not, what are the hindrances to congruency in your life? List three practical steps to take toward overcoming them. 

Adopted from “Motivated by the Impossible: Recognizing Your Invisible Mentors” by Ceitci Demirkova . All rights reserved. 

We hope this study has encouraged you! Explore Ceitci’s online course “Invisible Mentors”  and her book, “Motivated by the Impossible.” For all other book resources by Ceitci Demirkova click HERE.