Presence-Minded

UV 2779/10000 Presence-Minded
Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43 v 18
This uni-verse is asking us to practice a selective memory to recall only the positive happenings from our past, the blessings and wonders the Lord has done in our lives and that of others in the past. We are not to remember our bondages of the past, even our own sins and offences, the pleasures of the past. We are not to be like the Israelites who remembered the food and water they were given in Egypt while in bondage to Pharaoh. We are not to look back like Lot’s wife to the influence and stakes we had in the past in the world but focus on being the salt and light here and now.
Like Paul, we should forget our sordid or sad past and focus our minds on the goals the Lord has laid on our hearts: the goal to make known Jesus, the goal to become like Him, the goal to glorify God in all that we do. We should not focus on the grudges and problems we faced in the past but let bitterness and anger be transient emotions in our lives. We should not consider the things we do not have but consider all the blessings the Lord has given us. We should not fill our lives with regrets about what we ought to have done in the past but fill it with hope with regard to the future and eternity. Even the failures, mishaps, losses that we suffered will acquire a new significance that we will see these with a new perspective that adds depth, meaning, power and strength to our lives. Whatever the enemy thought for evil, the Lord will turn to good.
We are not just present-minded but presence-minded. Presence of mind is replaced by the presence of God in the believer. We think, speak, act and react as directed by the Holy Spirit who is the warranty of the presence of the Lord with us. We are focussed on the present moment, live it fully while our eye is on the glory and grace of the Lord. We are not too preoccupied with ourselves or engaged in deep thought but live trusting the Lord from moment to moment, day to day, situation to situation, experience to experience. Our spirits, minds and bodies are in equilibrium. When we free our memories and minds of the space taken up disproportionately by negative thoughts and memories of the past, we are free to live the abundant life, the life that is marked by the abundance of the fruit of the spirit, the abundance of joy. The shackles of the past are broken. The Spirit of God is given a free run and rein in our lives. We are energised to be and do our best for the greater glory of the Lord.

Prateep V Philip