October 20, 2022

Bishop, W. F. Houston, Jr.
Ecclesiastes 11:4 (NLT)
“Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant.”
Every day, someone says to me, "My life would be perfect if I had a different profession, home, car, environment, spouse, or bank account, or they could be like some celebrity whose life appears perfect and well-ordered. It's time to stop playing the 'My Life Would Be Perfect If' game. I stopped playing that game several years ago and started playing the 'My Life Is Perfect' game.
Now, there may be someone asking: Bishop Houston, What's The Difference? Well, I'm glad you asked. There are three things:

(1) Focus on the present.

(2) An approach with appreciation.

(3) Taking action with what's offered and accessible now.

When we get caught up in the "My Life Would Be Perfect If" game, we lose touch with the here and now and cannot correctly express thanks for what we have. In other words, it takes us out of the present and prevents us from being appreciative - thankful. Consider the following: it's challenging to be grateful for something you don't possess, and whatever you desire, need, or want, will always be waiting for you 'somewhere in future-ville.' Observe your surroundings. Do you have clothes on your back, a place to sleep, food to eat, a roof over your head, and some close relationships or friends? If you do, then be thankful for them.
In your head, you're probably thinking, "Yes, but I want more money, better clothes, a good quality relationship, more time to travel, to be smaller, happier, or something else." Instead of focusing on what you don't have, you should concentrate on what you do have. The Bible says, "Farmers who wait for perfect weather never plant. If they watch every cloud, they'll never harvest." If you settle for nothing less than absolute perfection, you'll keep getting empty promises and no actual results. The fact that "God has made us what we are" (Ephesians 2:10 NCV) indicates that doing our best is something we should continuously strive for, but none of us will ever reach exactitude on this side of heaven on earth, and it's Ok, it doesn't matter, it's all good because Christ has already covered us in his perfect righteousness and made us "complete in him"
(Colossians 2:10).