Live Up to Your Future!

Have you ever thought about going to your future and looking back at where you are now?

Something I always encourage girls to do is to make a list of all the specific qualities they want in a husband someday. Typically most Christian girls want a man of God who treats them with respect, is wise, protects them, etc. Regardless of how serious that girl takes her walk, this is what she wants. I think we sometimes forget to realize that to get someone that amazing and self-sacrificing, we have to do the same in return.

What do you want in a husband?

-Someone who puts others first

-Someone who respects me

-Someone who prays for me.

- (insert the rest of your list here)

Now look at your present, are you doing all these things in the relationships you have with your friends? Are you taking the time to work on these characteristics yourself? Do your dating relationships reflect this attitude?

When I was a year or two younger and guys would try to pursue me, something that always came to my mind was, “Would I want to tell my husband I had a relationship with this guy?” The answer was usually no, I could not stand the thought of telling the man I love and married--who is godly, respectful, wonderful—that I chose to date this worldly, desperate, less-than-my-standards guy because I grew impatient while waiting for him.

In fact, I am really kind of ashamed I have to tell my husband that I dated anyone at all. When I think about my future and look back on my past, it’s almost embarrassing. All those years of dating and talking and emotionally attaching myself to icky guys who didn’t care—why would I enjoy telling my husband that? To tell him that is telling him I couldn’t wait for you or God any longer, so just 16 years in I took the matter into my own hands and screwed everything up.

I realize we can’t change the past. And I’m not at all running for my past or covering it up, (because the truth is my husband will find out someday,) but we do have a say in the present and in the future. Think about what you’re doing now. What are you pursuing with your heart? Guys that aren’t yours? Things that won’t last like fashion and popularity? Are these pursuits something you can look back on with a pure heart and be satisfied with?

The 50 Year Plan

I encourage all of you to do something that has helped me enormously lately. Take some time today and sit down with a pen and paper. Think about where you want to be in 50 years. Not necessarily just your career, but who will you be? What will you do in your free time? What will you do with the people you love? Write it all down.

Then think about where you want to be in 30 years. What you will be doing, who you will be with, how you will live…write it down.

Repeat the process for 20 years, 10, and 5.

Then look at the steps you will have to take to get from the present to the place you want to be in 50 years. What steps do you need to take daily to get there?

Write down your daily goals for this.

What long-term steps over the course of the next several years do you need to do to get there? Write these down too.

When we plan ahead for the future, it is always important to make a plan of action in how to get there. Big goals need lots of little goals in order for them to happen. So who do you want to be in 50 years? Does the person you are now reflect that?

Matthew 6:33

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”