This is Pastor Daniel Stevenson. I'm director of the Southside Life Station and pastor of New Heights Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo.
And you're receiving this message because you opted in to be encouraged.
In Ecclesiastes 7-10 it says,
Do not say, Why is it that the former days were better than these?
For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.
There's no wisdom in looking at the past and saying the past was better than the present.
The fact is, since you can't do anything at all in the past, you're locked in, not free,
jailed, if you will, into the actions that you've already perpetrated in the past.
But in the present, you're completely free to do whatever it is that you need to do in the moment.
This is the day that the Lord has made.
God knows better than we do what this day is like in the grand scheme of things.
The past transitioned to the present and his journey is not to be lamented.
In other words, that which went before has gone away and gone behind.
And now it's become the present.
And yes, the present takes into account many factors from the past,
but the present must be used to glorify God.
We cannot live in regret, but should rejoice for the possible future that the present represents.
And the first most awesome thing is that we can choose to live for God in the present,
regardless of our circumstances.
Oh God, how we've longed for former days, high school days, romantic days,
good weather days, better finances days.
We realize now it's not from wisdom that we ask about that.
Lord, help us be free of our presuppositions that there were better times in the past
and realize that this is the day that you have made and be busy living in it for you.
In Jesus name, Amen.