Minute to Win It God Has the Next Step

One day always leads to the next! Waking up each day, we're thankful for our first breath. Then, from that moment, we tackle the minutes stringing them together to make up our day. Sometimes we meet with sadness, pulling us into a pit of despair. The next day brings buckets of joyful hope. We experience days when we wonder the whys, but then prayer answers. Occasionally, people get lost trying to navigate the minutes, not allowing the Captain to lead. Especially in the tough minutes, we wrestle with thoughts of conclusion when He's always bringing our next minute.

To remember that God has great plans for the next day, after a problematic minute has passed, we need to not rely on our understanding. But stand firm in the faith that God is in control. It's essential to realize the little moments of our answered prayers. Continue to trust in faith, as our lives are still a work in progress. If we take the time to test every minute of our existence, it proves our God is incredible and loving.

It's funny how as a society, we mesmerize ourselves with the quick fix, "the minute to win it" approach, when in our moment, we often miss the steps it takes to allow for our next minute? God plans, and we act or react. However, He uses every second for our next.

Have you ever been in one of those minutes of life wondering if this will continue? Sometimes you experience a great feeling and want it to last. Other times, when not so high, you want it to pass. We claim to trust in the outcomes and push forward, yet so many of us throw in the towel before God completes the work in us. He is a potter, and we are the clay, but we seem to want to mold ourselves instead of trusting He will be right there in it to win it.

We need to take comfort; He is in every minute, whether high or low. He is with us.

Thank you, God, for everything, every minute, second, and even millisecond. Smiles follow the tears, and stress follows with a release. Heartache followed by the warmth of a hug. Just thank God for every significant act of joy or sadness, pain or recovery, and every question followed by an answer.

You are everything good, and we're so blessed that you never give up on us, no matter what. Your guidance gently pushes us toward your plans for our lives. You have complete mastery over our possibilities. With patience and understanding of our failings, always our cheerleader. In our successes, you are there, allowing us to bring others to You.

When we close our ears to your words or guidance, we creatively find other ways to seep into the innermost part of who we are, and there you settle our minds and hearts. It is here, Lord, where you do your incredible work. You creatively clear away the layers blocking us from your vision of using everything for you. Thank you for taking our minute for Your plan. Thank you for taking minutes to win it, for each of us. Thank you for never giving up. We lack the trust that you are in our every minute and next, and you will always lead us. Why do we fight for your protection when all we need to do is follow? You are all we need, sadly, we live in this immediate world, and we miss so much from one minute to the next. Thank you, God, for leading even when we don't follow.

What if we stop rushing into our minutes? Slowing down enough to see we have a great God in the lead. How about letting Him be the Captain to lead us into the next minute that will come in His timing.

We feel an urge to do the immediate or go in a particular direction without complete clarity and then fall to our knees when we see the power of God’s guidance. Please stop the hurry of this world and recognize every miracle God has provided and allowed.

Be thankful for the barriers He has placed against the evils trying to take hold. One defense at a time, He may use you as a protector, or perhaps you’re the protected in a particular moment. Feel assured He is orchestrating a most comforting and beautiful symphony utilizing every smile, tear, anger, and pain. Our God is taking all the emotions, feelings, trials, and successes and mixing them. Then He places them in His calming and loving hands where He decides our next minute.

The decisions seem hidden for what seems like a long time. Never is it longer or more than the cross He bore for all of us. To know He would do that for us sinners are humbling. Then just when you can’t figure one more way to comprehend that reality. He opens His hands and reveals the beauty of His work.

Our tears are often a response to the absolute radiance of God's grace. The awareness and passion He instills in our hearts as believers allow the light to glow. His promises are the desires we should seek. He provides strength to those who seek Him and do their best to pick up their cross and follow His lead.

We look forward to what is next when you're in the lead. Thank you a million times over, even when it gets tough in the loss or confusion. We must remember you're in our every minute here on earth and those minutes to follow in our heavenly home. There we will meet those we lost and will live in your glory.

Here is a little prayer you might say to calm your spirit and trust in His lead; take a minute and read it. What could it hurt, and it may even help. It takes a minute to stop and talk to the one that can lead you. He teaches you from this minute to your next. He handles things when we mess up sometimes. And He already knows when we get it right, but there is always the next minute. Then one day, minutes will last forever because you are home with Him.

Thank you for leading, as I try my best in those minutes where the desire to win comes fast, ignoring that your timing is perfect. The patience you show in loving us will always lead me to the next minute, even if you have to give me a push. For You, God, are all I need? Take my hand, be my Captain. Take the lead, and I will follow you until I am home.

I will not fear as I remain still, knowing one day will always lead to the next. God, you are my lead, one minute at a time. Therefore, I will always take a minute to go in faith.