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This is Pastor Daniel Stevenson. I'm director of the Southside Life Station and pastor of New Heights Fellowship Baptist Church of East Toledo.

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And you're receiving this message because you opted in to be encouraged.

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In Ecclesiastes 7-10 it says,

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Do not say, Why is it that the former days were better than these?

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For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.

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There's no wisdom in looking at the past and saying the past was better than the present.

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The fact is, since you can't do anything at all in the past, you're locked in, not free,

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jailed, if you will, into the actions that you've already perpetrated in the past.

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But in the present, you're completely free to do whatever it is that you need to do in the moment.

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This is the day that the Lord has made.

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God knows better than we do what this day is like in the grand scheme of things.

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The past transitioned to the present and his journey is not to be lamented.

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In other words, that which went before has gone away and gone behind.

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And now it's become the present.

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And yes, the present takes into account many factors from the past,

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but the present must be used to glorify God.

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We cannot live in regret, but should rejoice for the possible future that the present represents.

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And the first most awesome thing is that we can choose to live for God in the present,

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regardless of our circumstances.

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Oh God, how we've longed for former days, high school days, romantic days,

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good weather days, better finances days.

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We realize now it's not from wisdom that we ask about that.

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Lord, help us be free of our presuppositions that there were better times in the past

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and realize that this is the day that you have made and be busy living in it for you.

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In Jesus name, Amen.