Giving youth pastors the tools they need to make and shape disciples.

Don’t Bet On The Future

12 · 28 · 16

For those who do not follow me on Instagram, I have been leaving one minute messages about excuses and overcoming them. I got up on December 12th and said to myself, “I want to change my morning routine.” That day I went and bought some sweat pants and set my clock for 5:30 the next morning.

I walked for about an hour, covering a little over 2 miles. Not a stellar day but I was not setting out to run a marathon, I just wanted to change my routine. I also did not wait until January 1 to make this commitment because Jan 1 is a big, fat lie.

Making a commitment on January 1 will not guarantee that you keep that commitment and neither will any other day. That is why on December 13th I got up, changed my morning routine, and went walking. Two weeks later, I am still at it.

While I walked, I go the idea to share some thoughts on Instagram. Below is the video where I talk about betting against the future.

 

Stop betting against the future.

A video posted by Paul Turner (@thedproject) on

 

The bottom line is, we cannot control or forecast the future. The future is unpredictable, but although we cannot foresee or predict the future we can prepare for it no matter what tomorrow brings.

Walking 3-5 miles a day does not secure me any more time in the future, but it does prepare me for a day, if I should live that long, for a time when I’d like not to weigh so much and have an active lifestyle when I am older.

I believe in not betting on a fickle future, because the future always wins against an unprepared soul.

Scripture tells me that the future is unstable ground when it comes to making big boasts,

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.” You do not even know what will happen tomorrow! What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.… James 4:13,14

This does not mean we should not set goals or make plans, it means we must hold them loosely and prepare for whatever future may show up at our door.

I know who holds the future and He is greater, and more stable, than what the future may bring me. My bet is on Him.

Tell me, are you betting on the future? Why or why not?

 

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