Have you ever looked at your life and realized there were things you didn’t like? I have—and by God’s grace I’ve been working to make changes for a while now. Philippians 2:12–13 (NKJV) Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
The Default Future
One powerful tool for motivation that I have found is the concept of the “default future.” I was encouraged to look at my life as it is now and confront the reality that a “static future” doesn’t exist. Julian Edleman of the New England Patriots said it this way when Nate was at one of his football camps… “when you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.” We are either growing or decaying. It’s a sobering thought: if you keep doing exactly what you’re doing now, without any changes, where would you end up? The status quo isn’t an option; it’s either progress or regression.
Writing out my default future was an eye-opening experience. It forced me to assess my choices and consider what I need to do to continue to become the man I want to be. Is it a lot of work? Yes, absolutely. But it’s worth it. When we stop for too long, we stagnate. We start to decay. We lose our purpose and our vision. It seems that in the west we have a concept of retirement that includes ministry and fellowship with our churches.
The Future God Wants for Me
It would be pretty depressing if it ended there. However, we should allow ourselves to consider where we want to be when our final breath has been taken. What does God have for you? What kind of a man or woman do you want to be, do you see God making you into? We are the children of God if we have been saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, but He wants us to grow into our heritage. That great cloud of witnesses was given as our encouragement to follow their faith, their examples. When we pass and our loved ones are forced to reflect on what kind of men or women we were on earth, what do you want them to say, or to think about you?
Incremental Changes
The good news is that change doesn’t have to happen overnight. Small, incremental adjustments—new habits and practices—can spark tremendous growth over time. What small practices could you start today that might pay off tomorrow?
A Prayer Journal: Try writing your prayers, like a letter to a friend. It can deepen your communication with God.
Daily Reflections: Keep a journal to reflect on your day or a specific moment, noting what went well, what didn’t, and why.
Time in the Word: This is what we are doing now during Sunday Worship. Investigating what the Word says about God. Not just reading or studying the Word, but soaking it in, meditating on it.
Daily Sabbath: Take intentional moments to pause and reconnect with God.
- Drawing Near to God: Seek closeness with God, trusting that He will respond whether or not you feel His presence.
- Worship in ways that resonate with you, whether through song, art, or even a walk in nature.
- Confession and Renewal: Regularly confess your known sins to God for forgiveness and to restore closeness with Him. Ask Him to search your heart for anything you might have missed and bring whatever He shows you to the cross.
- Filling of the Holy Spirit: Invite God to fill you with His Spirit as you pursue these daily practices.
Practice
The key here is practice. One-time efforts or activities can have an impact, but consistent practice brings lasting growth. There are pivotal moments in life—like trusting Jesus as Savior, following Him through baptism, or committing to marriage—that can change us forever. However, these major milestones must be supported by the small, daily habits we cultivate over time. They are what make our journey effective and joyful.
The Apostle Paul speaks to this need for consistency: “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” The Apostle Peter echoes this, reminding us that status quo is not enough: “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Begin
What practice will you begin today to free yourself from a default future? Start with something small and manageable. Don’t aim for perfection—just be consistent and watch God work in your life .