Make the little moments count:

by Ivan Venter
(South-Africa)

We start out this month with a look at the life changing moments in our lives. If I could account for some of these moments in my life the single most greatest moment that changed my life completely was the day that I gave my life to God and accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. It is strange however when I think about that night and all of the things that happened, I can't help but drift to the days and weeks before that night. All of the little and seemingly insignificant moments keep popping in to my head like a movie telling the epic story with detail and feeling, but then as you get to the end of that particular story you realize that the big finish would not be possible without the twists and turns that led to this particular juncture in the road.

As I acknowledged this fact I stop trying to remember the big moments without the all the little ones in between. When we look at our character in Christ this realization becomes a huge part of our growth and relationship with God. Let me ask you this, when you look at your life, today for that matter did you take notice of the people around you, did you see the need or the opportunity of God's hand in your life and in the lives of the people around you? This is the small and seemingly insignificant moments that when taken for granted become random acts that change our lives into the life that we don't want for ourselves. Its almost like taking a ball and throwing it into the air without looking where it lands. The world can be like that sometimes when we get up in the mornings and just go about our business without looking or noticing where the day will end up. Notice that I'm not saying that we should turn into control freaks, but rather that we should grab hold of everything that God sends on our path, because it will take us to that unsuspecting break through that will change our lives for ever.

Look at the following scripture:
Ephesians 5:15-17 “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (17) Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Modern King James Version)

This scripture gives a clear understanding that time is moving on, it does not wait and nor will it let you control it. What we can do is give time another chance, the scripture says that we have to redeem the times for the days are evil. Thus when we take every second and give it to God and appreciate it we will in fact start redeeming the time dragging it away from the darkness and into the light. This kind of action will put our characters firmly in Gods capable hands to form and direct as He pleases.

The following scripture explains my point even further:

James 4:13-17 “Come now, those saying, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city and spend a year there, and we will trade and will make a profit, (14) who do not know of the morrow. For what is your life? For it is a vapor, which appears for a little time, and then disappears. (15) Instead of you saying, If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. (16) But now you boast in your presumptions. All such boasting is evil. (17) Therefore to him who knows to do good, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (Modern King James Version)

James comes into this verse, guns blazing at the people that think that life, time for that matter is in their hands. Time is Gods and as His children we have the chance to give or redeem the time for the Kingdom of God. We do this by taking notice of the little moments in our lives. When looking at life I would like to make this conclusion: “All of it, the good and the bad is a opportunity on our paths to give God the glory. Life is not chance nor can it be controlled by human hands, no life is a gift meant to be shared with the Giver.”

Take a few moments out of your busy schedule and try to think how you see life and the impact that the little moments have on the really important things, like our character?