Stepping Into the FutureSample

As you step into your future, give thanks to God with a grateful heart. Don’t let the apparent impossibilities of what lies before you, or the unrelenting demands of your work, preoccupy you so that you forget God’s goodness and provisions in the past.

Remembering God reminds us of our mission.

Remembering God reminds us of our relationship with God.

Remembering God reminds us of the future to which God has called us.

Memories shape us, giving us a framework to interpret our present situation and to move towards our future. Without memory, we are doomed to repeat past mistakes because we cannot critically assess the present.

After God had led Joshua and the Israelites across the Jordan River, Joshua set up a memorial of twelve stones. These stones stand as a reminder to future generations that Israel crossed the Jordan not because of their own ability, strength, or cleverness, but because of God. Joshua did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. (Joshua 4:24)

You are where you are today, not because of your own ability, strength, or intelligence, but because of God! I invite you today to remember the places where you have seen God work in your life.

I invite you to remember the people God has used in your life. I invite you to remember the experiences where you have encountered God in your life.

If you journal, write down your memories, or find a memento or gesture that reminds you of God’s power and presence in your life. The best mementos are simple, but significant to you, and create curiosity in those who see them so that you can share God’s story.

As you step into your future, you will have the powerful privilege of sharing stories of the places, people, and experiences through which God has worked in your life.

Today, I invite you to take a moment to praise and give thanks to God for his faithfulness in the past. Today, I invite you to take a moment to praise and give thanks to God, who is more than capable of bringing you through whatever your future holds.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the way your powerful hand has worked in my life, bringing me to this point. Thank you for each person you have brought into my life, thank you for the places where I have experienced you. My heart overflows with thanksgiving for all that you have done for me. Amen.