WEBVTT 00:04.692 --> 00:07.953 [SPEAKER_00]: through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. 00:08.433 --> 00:14.194 [SPEAKER_00]: We have been afforded an opportunity to live an incredibly abundant life here on Earth. 00:15.175 --> 00:23.637 [SPEAKER_00]: Our God is nearer, more tangible, and has a greater ability to make His presence known than we've yet realized. 00:24.457 --> 00:32.902 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs to make his children more in tune and aware of the depths of his love, guidance, empowerment, and nearness. 00:33.602 --> 00:38.745 [SPEAKER_00]: He longs for art days here on earth to be marked by unveiled communion with him. 00:39.605 --> 00:49.690 [SPEAKER_00]: As we look at what it is to live in a abundant life here on earth, I pray that your heart will be awakened to the reality of God's presence and affection in your life. 01:13.907 --> 01:24.149 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from Matthew 6, verse 34, Scripture says, therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow. 01:24.789 --> 01:27.650 [SPEAKER_00]: For tomorrow will be anxious for itself. 01:34.378 --> 01:38.982 [SPEAKER_00]: I used to view my relationship with God as a straight line of spiritual progress. 01:40.083 --> 01:52.513 [SPEAKER_00]: My goal in spending time in the secret place with fellow believers at church and at work was to try and make the movement across this line of spiritual growth as quickly and painlessly as possible. 01:53.612 --> 02:02.056 [SPEAKER_00]: I would get frustrated anytime I got hung up on some issue or sin and couldn't experience freedom quickly enough. 02:03.257 --> 02:10.381 [SPEAKER_00]: My time spent with Jesus was more about how he could change me than how deeply he already loves me. 02:12.162 --> 02:18.125 [SPEAKER_00]: We unfortunately live in a day and age where speed and progress is everything. 02:19.175 --> 02:37.643 [SPEAKER_00]: We lose our patience, as soon as a waiter takes too long to get us our check, a light takes us an extra 30 seconds than we want it to, a driver holds us back five minutes from our destination, or a conversation interrupts the jam-packed schedule of our day. 02:38.803 --> 02:51.047 [SPEAKER_00]: and painfully, we have allowed our culture to shape our perspective of God's heart for us, rather than allowing His word and spirit to reveal how incredibly patient He is. 02:52.688 --> 03:03.052 [SPEAKER_00]: First Corinthians 13 verses 4 through 7 says, love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast. 03:04.028 --> 03:06.190 [SPEAKER_00]: It is not arrogant or rude. 03:07.131 --> 03:09.592 [SPEAKER_00]: It does not insist on its own way. 03:10.733 --> 03:13.175 [SPEAKER_00]: It is not irritable or resentful. 03:14.216 --> 03:18.840 [SPEAKER_00]: It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 03:20.361 --> 03:28.728 [SPEAKER_00]: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes, all things, and doors all things. 03:31.500 --> 03:37.625 [SPEAKER_00]: every one of these aspects of love finds its perfect fulfillment in the heart of our father. 03:38.746 --> 03:41.348 [SPEAKER_00]: Our God is patient and kind. 03:42.289 --> 03:57.041 [SPEAKER_00]: He bears our imperfections with love and grace, believes whole heartedly in us, is filled with hope over who we are, and joyfully endures our process of sanctification. 03:58.518 --> 04:03.000 [SPEAKER_00]: You see, our Heavenly Father cares deeply about you presently. 04:04.041 --> 04:10.584 [SPEAKER_00]: He isn't waiting until you get a little holier to pour out the full depths of his love and joy over you. 04:11.645 --> 04:20.430 [SPEAKER_00]: He isn't holding back the satisfaction he feels in simply living in relationship with you until you finally get over a certain sin. 04:21.570 --> 04:26.353 [SPEAKER_00]: He loves and longs for unveiled communion with you right now. 04:28.022 --> 04:42.809 [SPEAKER_00]: If we wait until we have it all together to settle into the pace of this life, find peace and fully enjoy God, we will never experience the wealth of abundant life available to us this side of heaven. 04:44.129 --> 04:44.890 [SPEAKER_00]: Matthew 634 says, 04:57.820 --> 05:02.542 [SPEAKER_00]: have patience for yourself and others, the way your Heavenly Father does. 05:04.203 --> 05:07.765 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to receive His perfect perspective for today. 05:08.926 --> 05:16.650 [SPEAKER_00]: Give your relationship with Him all the energy you have and waste nothing on the frivolous cares of tomorrow. 05:18.471 --> 05:26.575 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time and guided prayer to allow your Father to overwhelm you with the love He feels for you right now as you are. 05:28.046 --> 05:45.310 [SPEAKER_00]: experience today the peace and joy that can only be found when you surrender the entirety of your life, spiritual development, and future plans to your faithful shepherd and simply follow him to green pastures and still waters. 05:46.730 --> 05:50.371 [SPEAKER_00]: He promises there will be more green pastures tomorrow. 05:51.311 --> 05:57.373 [SPEAKER_00]: He promises to guide you faithfully every day to the fullness of life he died to give 05:58.678 --> 06:02.042 [SPEAKER_00]: Your only job as his sheep is to trust him. 06:02.864 --> 06:07.910 [SPEAKER_00]: Let him love and care for you and follow his perfect leadership. 06:09.412 --> 06:16.862 [SPEAKER_00]: May you drink deeply of the living waters of God's love today as you rest in the presence of your loving shepherd. 06:45.981 --> 06:46.662 [SPEAKER_00]: as we begin. 06:47.863 --> 06:52.106 [SPEAKER_00]: Meditate on God's patience and love for you in the present. 06:53.728 --> 07:01.814 [SPEAKER_00]: Allow scripture to guide you to a desire to encounter God fully and openly just as you are. 07:01.834 --> 07:05.858 [SPEAKER_00]: 1 Corinthians 13 verses 4 through 7 says, 07:15.672 --> 07:17.912 [SPEAKER_00]: It is not arrogant or rude. 07:19.213 --> 07:21.713 [SPEAKER_00]: It does not insist on its own way. 07:22.933 --> 07:25.234 [SPEAKER_00]: It is not irritable or resentful. 07:26.634 --> 07:31.355 [SPEAKER_00]: It does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 07:32.855 --> 07:41.457 [SPEAKER_00]: Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes, all things, endures, all things. 08:25.813 --> 08:33.117 [SPEAKER_00]: and next, what burden are you carrying that is grounded in the future instead of the present? 08:34.558 --> 08:41.522 [SPEAKER_00]: What are you striving toward that is not found in the green pastures Jesus desires to lead you to today? 08:43.103 --> 08:52.428 [SPEAKER_00]: James 5-8 says, you also be patient, establish your hearts for the coming of the Lord 09:13.636 --> 09:14.057 [UNKNOWN]: And last. 09:39.557 --> 09:44.699 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into a lifestyle of living presently. 09:45.999 --> 09:54.722 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask Him what it looks like to cast off fear over tomorrow and experience the abundant life meant for you in the present. 09:56.202 --> 10:02.184 [SPEAKER_00]: Take time to rest in the presence of God and discover His patience over you. 10:02.204 --> 10:04.084 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm 377 says, 10:06.542 --> 10:10.240 [SPEAKER_00]: be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 10:54.197 --> 11:03.183 [SPEAKER_00]: your heavenly Father is most definitely molding and shaping you to look more like Jesus through a process of spiritual development. 11:04.163 --> 11:11.628 [SPEAKER_00]: He has perfect plans for your sanctification that you might have a greater sense of His love at the end of every day. 11:12.668 --> 11:19.813 [SPEAKER_00]: But that process is defined by daily living in the present and engaging with Him fully in each moment. 11:21.270 --> 11:28.777 [SPEAKER_00]: Leave the planning and leadership up to him, and simply follow him to green pastures and still waters every day. 11:30.018 --> 11:40.747 [SPEAKER_00]: Seek relationship with him and allow daily, consistent encounters with him to mold and fashion you into a greater reflection of your good shepherd. 11:41.948 --> 11:48.274 [SPEAKER_00]: May you find peace, joy, and patience by living in the present today. 12:13.876 --> 12:15.619 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with first 15. 12:16.079 --> 12:18.703 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast. 12:19.023 --> 12:22.548 [SPEAKER_00]: The first in our week-long look at living and abundant life. 12:23.593 --> 12:31.939 [SPEAKER_00]: If you're looking for a practical way to practice being present today, one long-standing spiritual practice is called breath prayer. 12:32.680 --> 12:44.769 [SPEAKER_00]: Taking just a few minutes to focus on nothing but your breath in and out is a great way to learn how to focus on the present, both in prayer and in simply quiet in your mind. 12:45.869 --> 12:50.453 [SPEAKER_00]: I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.