Living My "Someday"

"Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

"Jesus replied, 'No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.'" Luke 9:62 (NIV)

I love to dream! I love to imagine what my life will be like when I achieve this goal or am blessed with this dream. Many of us say, "Someday, I am going to take that trip!" or "Someday, I am going to answer God's call on my life!" or "Someday, my life is going to be better!"

For many years, I prayed that God would give me my "someday." I prayed and recited affirmations and worked as hard as I could to achieve the dreams and goals I had wanted. But, then I got tired. I became so worn out that I couldn't believe any more. A bit of hope still remained, but the strength to keep asking, believing and praying was fading. I had worked so hard because I had believed so hard in God's promises. When I had believed and prayed for so many years and saw little to nothing happening, I wondered if maybe those dreams and goals weren't for me. Maybe what I heard as my calling was really a call for someone else. Maybe what I was believing and striving for was for someone else to do. Maybe believing wasn't worth all that I had been doing.

God finally had to get me to a place where I knew that He was in charge and that all things happen by His power. He brought me to a point where I had to let go of my old beliefs, my old ways of doing things, striving, stressing and straining. He had to renew my mind so that I was living and learning His way. Instead of believing, "If it's meant to be, it's up to me," I had to start believing, "If it's meant to be, it's up to God!"

So I decided that I wanted to live my dreams which are the visions God gave me. I decided that I wanted them bad enough to achieve them His way. Once I made that decision, I began living my "someday." I didn't have to focus on past successes and methods of doing things. I now could keep my eyes on the prize in front of me and press towards the mark - His call. I could follow His Word and live my someday all day long.

Now living my someday requires me to get my feet wet, big time! I have to swing both feet over, step into unsure waters and actually pry my fingers off my boat of comfort. Unfortunately for me, my boat of comfort is still tethered to the dock with so many knots that it ain't going anywhere! So if I am going to be the woman God has called me to be, I have to step off the boat and let go every day just as John Ortberg wrote in his book, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You've Got to Get Out of the Boat."

Now what does my someday look like? It looks like all the visions God has given me. It looks exceeding abundantly above all I could ask or think. It looks like the promised land, a land flowing with milk and honey. It's a someday with every nook and cranny filled with God and all that He is. My someday is me actually living the call He has placed on my life in ways that I could not even imagine. What a someday!

If you could live your "someday" what would it look like? What would you be doing? Where would you be? Who would you be with? What would you need to do to live it right now? Who and what would you need to let go of? Could you get out of the boat and let go? Could you or would you answer Jesus' call, "Come," and walk towards His outstretched hands? Why not try?! Why not swing your feet over the side? Why not dip your big toe into the water and then get your feet wet?! Why not reach out one arm to Jesus and then the other? Why not take a step towards Him, your Someday?

Dear Jesus, reach for me. Wrap your arms around me and show me more of my "someday." Help me keep my eyes on You, my Prize, my Someday. Help me live today as my someday so full of Your grace and Presence. May You be glorified, honored and praised. In Your precious Name, Amen.