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A Prayer About the Rest of My Misty Moment

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, 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. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15
Heavenly Father, you haven’t made me for “15 minutes in the spotlight,” but for an eternity of glorifying you and enjoying you forever. As this day begins, I praise you for such an exquisite and exhilarating future… a future that’s already begun for me, and all your children, in Jesus. Eternal life began for us the day you “raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms” (Eph. 2:6)… to the praise of your glorious grace. (Eph. 1:6)
Yet, and so very yet, my lifespan in this body really isn’t that long. I feel that more than ever, and I’m both sobered and gladdened by the thought. We all have our different stories, but mine includes a mom whom you called home right after she turned 38, and a dad who’s nearly 91 and may outlive me!
So, Father, here’s what I ask of you… how would you have me live the rest of my “misty moment?” Only you know when I’ll “vanish” from this body… only you know what will happen tomorrow. I’ll keep on planning, but it’s you who orders my steps (Prov. 16:9). I don’t need a “bucket list,” but a “gospel list.”
Because the gospel is both true and beautiful, what would you have me spend more time doing and less time doing? I’m a forgetful man, Father. What’ve I been putting off that really matters to you… please remind me. What empty parasites are sucking my precious moments away, and I don’t even realize it?
With who do I need to spend more face to face and heart to heart time? Who am I still holding hostage by the chains of my unforgiveness and bitterness? What am I allowing to bug me in others that really isn’t all that “bug-worthy”?
What should I spend more money on and less money on, Father? You’ve blessed me with more things and stuff than I ever imagined. What does stewarding this “stuff,” versus serving this “stuff,” look like?
O, Father, O blessed, laughing and loving Father, I praise you that I’m not going to merit any more of your affection by doing a better job with any of these things. None of these questions has a scorecard attached to it. It’s Jesus’ performance and record I boast in… plus nothing. But your grace frees me to ask the right questions and live a much more “gospelicious-misty-moment.” That’s what I’m talking about… a “gospel list.” So very Amen, I pray, in Jesus’ matchless and magnificent name.

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