Living in the Moment by Lisa Burkhardt Worley (Part 2)

Do you have trouble staying fully present? 

Are you like me—always thinking about the future? What’s going to happen later, tomorrow or a year from now?

When the Bible speaks about taking thoughts captive in 2 Corinthians 10:5, the thoughts I have to take captive are thoughts about the future. This tendency to look ahead is a blessing and a curse. The blessing is that I’m a visionary leader and a pretty good event planner. The curse is that I have trouble resting in the moment and “abiding” in Christ. I don’t always hear what God wants to say to me—and through me. 

What about you?  

In Isaiah 29:13, the Lord speaks about this issue when He says, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” 

When you pray, are you fully present?

When you worship, are you tuned in?

When you read your Bible, are the words infiltrating your heart, or are you going through the motions?

This past weekend, I attended the Modern Prophetic Symposium, led by ministry leader and well known prophet, Shawn Bolz. In addition to Bolz, there were many other great men and women of faith presenting, like John Bevere, Cindy Jacobs and Cindy McGill. There were also outstanding worship leaders like Bryan and Katie Torwalt, composers of the famous worship song, “Holy Spirit.” 

I also volunteered at the conference with our POP Director of Marketing, Aurora Geis, and felt drawn to serve. I wanted to be immersed in the moment, not missing any of the teaching or prophetic words intended for me. When my mind would start to wander, thinking, “I wonder what’s next?” or “What are we going to eat tonight?” I’d stop, take the thought captive, and pray to focus.

God wants us to be present in His presence.

The next time you’re at church, or spending time reading the Bible, imagine Jesus is there with you, watching you, sitting an arm’s length from your right. Ask Him what He wants to teach you. Worship Him like He is in the same room. Be present in the moment with Him.

Here’s the truth, if you are a believer, God is with you—always. Our bodies are His dwelling place, even though we can’t see Him. When I think about all the times I’ve drifted in His presence, it’s embarrassing and I am repentant. When we live in the moment, we can better hear God’s voice, and He has so much to tell us. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.” But we need to be present with Him. 

So this reflection led to the writing of a song to God from my heart, asking Him to help me to be fully present—mind, body and spirit, with Him. Perhaps it will be your prayer as well.

In This Moment by Lisa Burkhardt Worley

VERSE 1

In this moment, 

I will keep my eyes on you.

I am thankful,

For all you say and do.

VERSE 2

Don’t let me wander,

Stay focused on the now.

I crave your presence,

Feel you speaking—there’s no doubt.

CHORUS

In this moment, touch my heart.

In this moment, don’t depart.

In this moment, help me not to stray away.

In this moment I need you,

Guide me in what I’m going through

In this moment, open my soul in your plain view.

VERSE 3

In this moment,

I’m chasing you—you know.

In this moment, 

Hold me tight and don’t let go.

In this moment, don’t let me miss a thing you say.

VERSE 4

In this moment, 

the future comes to now.

In this moment, 

Show the why, the what and how.

Make this moment change my life forever more.

CHORUS

In this moment, touch my heart.

In this moment, don’t depart.

In this moment, help me not to stray away.

In this moment I need you,

Guide me in what I’m going through

In this moment, open my soul in your plain view.

In this moment. I want your presence. Don’t let me wander. I need this moment with you.