Press the Pedals
I love looking at old photographs. Memories flood in as bold as the ink upon the page. Each one is accompanied by either joy, sorrow, or a range of emotions in between as thoughts surround every success or failure. Trying not to stray too long on what was, I force my thoughts to veer toward the other end of the spectrum, what could be. There lie hopes and dreams I still hold onto. Suddenly, I realize the back and forth is nauseating, and so I pause to hear wisdom speak to my heart. He says to look straight ahead but be aware of the now.
There is a call to reposition right now. It is a call to align our hearts and minds with the places God wants to take us, both in the natural and in our thinking. The simple truth is that we need to move toward something without forgetting we are somewhere. We can’t live in the past and we can’t live in the future. We have to travel each moment where we are ⸺in the now.
Staying present doesn’t mean we don’t look ahead and dream or plan. I lived many years with a planner in one hand. That being said, we can’t live in our plan. We live in the reality that is today, with our hearts positioned in hope. As responsible adults, we have to feed our families, wash dishes, and do laundry. If we don’t, there are consequences like being hungry, attracting ants, and smelling like yesterday.
You may ask, “What does it look like to live in and enjoy the now?” It's as easy as riding a bicycle! That saying came to mind when I asked that very question. If you think about it, this balancing act of honoring the past, while dreaming of what lies ahead is similar to riding a bike!
Most kids are taught early in life to ride a bike. Even if you haven’t done it in a while, most people could get on a bicycle and after a few moments would be able to joyfully ride down the street. Back on the bike, the muscle memory from your brain kicks in and you remember how to move forward. That being said, you aren’t really riding a bike until you embrace the action of riding and start to pedal. That is when we go from memory into the moment, which propels us forward toward dreams and possibilities.
In these moments of repositioning, I believe God is calling us first to embrace the moment and second to ACTION. There is an incredible joy that can come when we embrace the reality of where we are. Then we put the pedal to the metal and start to move. Only when you put your feet on the pedals and push a little, can progress be made. Even the smallest push sets you in motion, and you move forward. You can’t go backward! That is the beautiful thing, you can only move ahead. If you start to backpedal, you stop! In the backward motion, the brake kicks in, and you are stuck unable to even stay upright or centered.
This reminds me of something a man named Paul wrote in the Bible. He acknowledged that he hadn’t figured it all out, nor had he felt like he had arrived. But when speaking about becoming like Christ, he explains how he actively presses on (Philippians 3:12-14). That active pressing or pedaling forward is what allows us to be aware of where we are and able to move ahead, active in the now.
There is one word that defines how we can enjoy the now⸺ Joy. We choose joy in the middle of pain and in moments of celebration. Joy is not happiness. Joy is an internal state, not dependent on our circumstances. It is not reactive but rather proactive. Joy is a choice based on living in Jesus. His presence can be the now we live in, providing the fullness we need for every moment. Joy comes as we stay present and celebrate the little things, every small pedal towards more. It is finding the balance between moving forward with expectation and thankfulness even when circumstances didn't give us a reason to be happy.
We can enjoy the now, knowing that there is purpose in the process and not in the product. Here are three steps to living this way:
Always be joyful
Keep on praying
Be thankful
If you imagine this bicycle we have been talking about, then the front wheel is joy, the seat is prayer, and the back tire is thankfulness. Picture it for a moment, because this image will change your life! If we lean into joy (no matter what we face), sit ourselves down in a posture of prayer, and finish by giving thanks, we will live victoriously in the now. This alignment takes us away from one place, into a richer and fuller life.
If our lives consist of these three things: rejoicing, prayer, and thanksgiving, we will see an internal and external movement away from defeat and disappointment. We will see momentum towards abundance. Though times might be confusing, or moments seem overwhelming, we can get unstuck if we rejoice in WHO GOD IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE, thanking Him for his love, peace, and provision. Those are the wheels that keep the motion going. Those are the points of traction in our lives.
With joy as our guide and thanksgiving as our rear guard, we sit in a place of prayer, resting in our relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. From our relationship and ultimately communication, they direct our steps. In that place, we are able to pedal. From that posture of relationship— prayer, joy and thankfulness MOVE US FORWARD.
What can you do to get back on the bike?
➤Set your heart to rejoice before the breakthrough happens! In the middle of the mess, whether full of defeat or despair, commit your heart to lean into joy. Pause for a moment, and invite Holy Spirit to breathe new life, dusting off the dirt and grime from the former hard seasons. Ask the Father to envelop you in his loving arms and impart courage into your heart that will be needed for health and wholeness. Choose to internally center your heart on joy which is not dependent on whether things go well. Maybe even laugh a little.
➤Pray for fresh strength (which accompanies joy). Ask the Father to fill you up with excitement for the place you are and the places he is positioning you into. Center your thoughts on the truth that God has good things in store for you.
➤Then say out loud one thing you are thankful for. Think of one thing you can say thank you to God for. Name one truth that is rooted in gratitude, like who He is for you right now, and thank him for that one thing!
➤Get back on that bike and keep riding!
“Always be joyful. Always keep on praying.
No matter what happens, always be thankful,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 The Living Bible
