Stable Moments

Our journey in Christ is one where from moment to moment Holy Spirit allows our viewpoint to change… To see things from a different angle… I believe this is to grow us in our walk with Him.  Where He has you standing now in your walk may possibly be different from this point last year as He takes you from moment to moment in life. This morning Holy Spirit revealed to me that we try to hold on to moments, especially those of us who struggle with change.  Sometimes we try to hold on to moments “double fisted” refusing to let go, comfortable with where we are at, but while we can “savor” a moment we cannot hold fast to it no matter how much we long to do so or how hard we try.  Thank God for creating us with the ability to remember.  He has instilled within each of us our own internal camera to create memories of moments, but moments cannot be held fast and it is a fruitless task to hold on to time, which is forever changing. Stability is found only in Christ.

I found myself reflecting on the birth of Christ.  Luke 2:1-21 tells the story of Jesus’ birth:

” In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived. “

The God of glory, so very much loved us that He came down from the glories of Heaven to personally meet us where we are at. Born IN A STABLE because there was NO ROOM AT THE INN for the Savior of the world, Jesus was born from the virgin, Mary to reconcile us through His death and resurrection on the cross to a right relationship with the Father.

STABILITY CAN ONLY BE FOUND IN HIM.

Holy Spirit further showed me that we try to find comfort in memories, but like smoke screens we cannot recapture and hold fast to that which has already passed. I was recently told that I am a very nostalgic person. The very definition of “nostalgia” is:

“A sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.”

There is nothing wrong with having fond memories, praise God for giving us the ability to remember. Even more so, praise God for testimonies He has given us that come from those memories.  Testimonies are our stories of what God HAS done, where God has brought us right up to the present moment! Even the above scriptures tells us  in Luke 2:19:

“Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.”

Treasuring memories is one thing, pondering at the wonder of God with all He has done is yet another wonderful thing But when we try to find comfort and cling on to what has passed,  our focus is not on what God is doing, but what He has done and only what He has done.  We become stuck in the past and unable to place our eyes on the One who has ordered ALL the rest of our days. Lot’s wife turned into a pillar of salt when instead of listening to the direction of the angel of God NOT to look behind her, but to keep her eyes ahead.  God wants to move us forward, we live in an unstable, fallen world – stability is not found in people, not found in places, not in situations, but found in God alone.  As we move forward in Him, we need to thank Him for moments gone past but look forward to what He has in store for us as we go forward! Ephesians 2:10 tells us:

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

When we keep our eyes on God and we walk forward in our faith, we are trusting that God has even GREATER memories in store for us! You can’t walk forward in your purpose if your eyes remain on the past.  God wants to do great things through you and in you! The One Who was born IN a stable, is the One where ONLY stability can be found.  Anything else IS a smokescreen and cannot be held on to! Kind of like trying to hold onto a cloud!  Change is inevitable, the ONLY unchangeable thing is found in a relationship with God through Jesus.  If you are looking for steadfastness, it is ONLY found in a relationship with God through Christ.  Once we have acknowledged that, we find rest, we find peace and we find unbelievable love in a God who loves us SO very, very much.  For it is only God that is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Stability IS found in Him. Let’s us entrust ALL our moments to Him. Our steps, after all are ordained BY Him.  Let’s not just stop mid-step, but finish the race that He has set before us. So that we may hear, “well done, thy good and faithful servant.” When at the end of our days, we look back and “ponder” as Mary did – ALL He has brought us through from start to finish, in His precious name.

“Father, I thank You that every good and perfect thing comes from You.  I thank You for the internal camera that You created in me, the gift of memories. Father, forgive me for the times when instead of finding solace in You I have tried unsuccessfully to find and hold onto memories to sustain me. No matter how hard I try, they only comfort me for a little while and then I’m brought back to the present, I can’t make the past the present and I realize I need You to comfort me and to give me the strength and will to go forward. YOU are my Rock.  I know that stability I am desiring can only be found in You.  Thank You Father for what You have given me in the past, for what You are giving me now and for Your plans for my future – which I know You have preordained before the creation of the world.  Please help me to walk in the purpose You have created me for and to trust that the best is YET to come.  I love You Father, I trust You,  I commit ALL my days to You.  In Jesus’ precious name I pray, Amen!”