Don't Miss the Moment

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Dietrich Bonhoeffer landed in New York in 1939 seeking refuge from the Nazi regime. The prospect of war in Europe was all but assured.

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Friends urged him to stay in the United States. There were classes to teach and churches ready to host him. The offer of safety and a fresh start was very alluring. But within two weeks, his heart was restless.

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He wrote to friends that he had made a mistake. He booked a ticket back to Germany. Back into the danger he'd just escaped. Why?

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I want to talk about being sensitive to the season God has placed you in. Ecclesiastes reminds us that every season has its purpose, and when we stay alert to what God is doing in the here and now, we find the courage to step into our calling without missing the moment.

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Bonhoeffer sensed this wasn't a season to run. It was a season to stand. He believed God was calling him to share the trials of his people. The Church was under pressure, and Bonhoeffer realized he needed to speak truth, even though it cost him.

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He didn't chase comfort or opportunity. He chose obedience in the moment God put in front of him. That's Ecclesiastes 3.1 in real life. There is a time for every activity under heaven.

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Bonhoeffer recognized his time, and he didn't miss it. What does this mean for us? God has given each of us a season. We go through cycles in life, or seasons, if you will. Sometimes this season may be joyful.

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Sometimes painful, and sometimes full of waiting. The temptation is to wish it away. We tell ourselves, when things calm down, then I'll serve. When the kids are older, then I'll be present.

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When I retire, then I'll do what God is calling me to do. But whether we realize it or not, this season that you are in is the one God has placed you in, and he wants to use you in it.

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Being present means asking, Lord, what are you doing here, right now, and how can I join you?

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Maybe it's slowing down to notice your family instead of rushing past them. Maybe it's stepping into an opportunity to serve your church or community instead of waiting for a better time. Maybe it's simply trusting him in a season of suffering.

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Believing that he's at work even when you don't see it. Seasons change, but God's presence doesn't. And when you choose to live fully in the moment God has given to you, you won't miss what he's doing in you and through you. Today, pause and ask, What season am I in right now? And how is God inviting me to be faithful in it? Write down one way you can be fully present today, whether it's encouraging someone, slowing down for prayer, starting a new ministry, or stepping into obedience. Lord, thank you for placing me in this season of life. Help me not to miss the moment you put in front of me. Teach me to see what you're doing here and now, and give me the courage to join you in it. In Jesus' name, Amen.

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Thanks for joining me today on Daily Devotions for Busy Lives.

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Remember, don't miss the moment God has placed you in right now.

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Come back next time for more encouragement to help you live grounded in God's truth. Until then, God bless and have a great day.