Being FULLY Present!

"Wherever you are, be all there."

These words were spoken by Jim Elliot, a missionary who died serving God's people on the mission field.

I have been reflecting on this quote all week. I feel that the Lord keeps putting it on my heart. And, I think He has good reason. I keep finding myself so distracted. My mind is wondering a million different directions all day long. I'll be at work doing something, but thinking about what I'm going to make for dinner when I get home, how I'm going to manage to keep up with my running plan,  all the to-do's my husband and I have to get done on the weekend, etc.  Then, I'll go home and be doing all my work around the house, and thinking about the lesson plans and all the new information I'm learning about my job that I need to sort out. I'll be spending time with Jesus, but thinking through my schedule for the day in the back of my mind. I have felt almost like I have taken on more than I can handle. I love all the things that I'm involved in, but it's like my brain has been having a hard time sorting it all out. And for me, this just leads to stress. As much as try to fight it, my type A personality takes over, and boom: I'm a frazzled mess...

This stress is nothing new. I've been fighting these emotions my entire life, and I can't give up now. Because, in the midst of it all, I hear His quiet voice encouraging me, and reminding me that it's okay. And I hear, "Wherever you are, be all there." It's then I realize I need to refocus. Jesus wants me to be present, fully present, in all that I do. So, when I'm at work, I will be at work, loving and teaching the precious kiddos that the Lord has given me. And, when I'm at home, I will be at home, doing what I need to do here, and loving the amazing husband God has given me (who is ever so patient with me in my moments of weakness.) Above all, when I'm with the Lord, I  will be with Him, hearing from Him, speaking to Him, and learning how to live my life in the way He desires. One thing I know He desires is that I be present. I cannot live in the past or in the future. I must live in the NOW. Worry usually happens when we're thinking about something that is to come. God doesn't want us to do this.

"Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

He wants us to be where we are. How else can we fulfill His plans for us if we are not listening moment by moment? As a woman, I know that this is something that other women struggle with as well. We are cursed by the choice of Eve. She made the choice to take things into her own hands when she reached for the fruit in the Garden. She then sought to control by offering it to her husband. Our natural tendency because of Eve, is to try to control things, to take things into our hands, to carry a burden that is not our own. But, this is NOT an excuse. We have been offered NEW life in Christ, and we have the CHOICE to give into the Eve-like tendencies or to Jesus. I don't know about you, but I sure want to choose Jesus over Eve! I want to be present! I don't want my heart to tell my mind I need to be in control and therefore distract me with worry all day long. I want to be in the NOW! I want to live in the present. In this moment. The moment we're in now is really all we have no matter where we are, and we need to life it well! Jesus tell us,

"I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

He wants us to have life to it's fullest! I'm so thankful that He continues to offer new life each day!  Let us come to the one who gives us life ,trust Him with our moments, and let Him help us be fully present. Wherever we are, let us be all there!