LOVE ONLY EXISTS IN THE PRESENT MOMENT

 

The past is only a memory, the future is only an expectation, the only real thing you have is the present—everything else exists only in your mind. Both the past and the future only have access to the present by the energy you choose to give them in the present. Whether you choose to allow the stories of the past or expectations of the future to dictate your attitude and actions in the present is up to you. You have a choice. Most people do not consciously make this choice and by default allow their presence to be stolen by the insecurities of past or future. This is one of the great symptoms of our sin nature. 

 

The separated identity is far too anxious to ever be present here and now. It is always obsessed with accusations of the past or speculations of the future. In contrast, love is always present—you cannot go back in time or space to love and you can’t travel into a future time or place to love—your only chance to love is in the present moment. Our detached identities were forged in the furnace of an imaginary but brutal war. We designed them to protect us from all potential emotional threats, so they never rest and never stop analyzing the past and the future to see where the next threat might come from. Because of this, a detached identity can never be present. Their eyes always look strait past whatever is present to the anxieties of past or future. Instead of operating out of our eternal state, which is connected and secure, a separated identity drives us to operate out of a temporal state, where the fear of loss, scarcity and “others” are constant paranoias. Connection is only experienced in the present. Real life is that which is present. Everything else is merely a perception of what happened in the past or what might happen in the future. If we allow separation’s anxiety to keep us in it’s imaginary realm of the past or future, it will keep us from God’s present realm of connection, power and love. 

 

The present is the only real time and place, where love’s grace and peace is always available, but the sin nature tries to distract us from the present by focusing on past or future illusions. Our sin nature insists on past debts and future fears, reinforcing the perception of division, guilt, shame and debt. So long as your heart holds those debts as outstanding, you maintain the illusion of love-scarcity and will refrain from giving love freely in the present. Love is not a finite resource. It is infinite and you can never out-give it. The good news is that once the illusions of loss and decay have been exposed, and permission to love has been taken, separation’s illusions naturally retreat, just as darkness retreats from light. 

​

GOD ONLY OPERATES IN THE ETERNAL PRESENT

 

“The kingdom of God” is by far the primary subject in Jesus’ teachings. Jesus mentions the kingdom of God 58-70 times (depending on translation). Compared to the runners up of faith and love (15-20 times and 10-15 times respectively), the kingdom of God is clearly the topic Jesus was most concerned with teaching us. When Jesus preached His gospel, He said, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” In other words, “Change your thinking, God is here and now.” In Luke 17:20-21, we find Jesus trying to help the Pharisees to understand, "When He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would arrive, Jesus replied, 'The kingdom of God doesn't come by watching for it. Nor will they say, "Look, here it is" or "There it is." For behold, the kingdom of God is within you.'” - Luke 17:20-21 (TPT). Again, we see Jesus trying to get us to understand that God always exists in the here and now, not in some other place or time. The apostle Paul also describes this same concept when he says, “...now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” - 2 Corinthians 6:2 (NIV). Where is God’s reign? Here. When is God coming? He is already here! Our perception is the only thing that prevents us from experiencing Him. 

 

There are two concepts of time, one is where fear dwells, and the other is where God dwells. Fear dwells in the limitations, anxieties and frustrations of temporal life. God dwells in the joy and peace of boundless eternal abundance. Eternity has no beginning and no end. It is the constant present of God’s constant presence. Eternal life is always accessible, but only in the present here and now. It is never earlier and never later, it is always here now. There is no thought that can distract God’s eternal love from the present. No laws, no debts, no past offense, no fear, no accusation, and no speculation. Eternity is suspended in the consistency of His present love. We access eternal life every time we allow ourselves to be fully present to His love for ourselves and those around us. 

 

Love does not worry about the future, and is never limited by the past. It is eternal, anchored in the present moment, giving freely without counting yesterday or tomorrow. In contrast, the detached identity’s obsession with time is a trap, chaining us to what was or what might be, instead of the potential of what is in front of us right now. Think of a wife replaying her husband’s harsh words from years ago, her heart hardening with each recollection, or a husband fretting over future finances, ignoring his wife’s needs in his stress. In relationships, these tyrannical thoughts steal the present, which blocks connection and pushes loved ones away. 

 

DISCONTENT ONLY EXISTS BY PERCEPTION OF PAST OR FUTURE

 

The reason you are not content is because you are placing a higher value in some distant imaginary world than in the present real world. Discontentment is the fruit of believing in the illusion of a better time or place than here and now to experience the fullness of life and love. The detached identity's discontent is a form of escapism—it’s rooted in the desire to escape the present by imagining itself as something other than it is; perhaps something bigger, better, or more successful. It’s a refusal to accept and find peace with the present story of your life. You can’t cope with this present moment so you imagine somewhere else that’s better. The separated identity can even use religion to trick us into forfeiting the presence of God for an idea about God in some other place or time. Every time we do this we forfeit love. Countless opportunities to manifest love right now have been forfeited to the service of religion. The only true religion is a present religion.  

 

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...” - James 1:27 (NIV):

 

FAITH ENABLES US TO ACCESS THE PRESENT

 

We gain access to the eternal present though faith. Faith is trusting you are exactly where you are supposed to be in exactly the right timing, no matter when or where you are. Faith is how you can enjoy the present, no matter the circumstance. Faith is the link to finding acceptance of, and purpose in, your past, present and future, regardless of what they are. Faith has such confidence that its fate cannot escape God’s plan, that it puts no limit to the love it can give away presently. 

 

"But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment." - 1 Timothy 6:6 (NASB)

 

Discontentment is a sign that a detached identity has completely embedded itself in our minds—the thing driving us is not love, but an imaginary status, an imaginary comparison or competition with others. We must ask ourselves why we are trying to escape the present. What are we so afraid of? Are you disappointed in what’s in front of you? Are you afraid of the responsibility to bring order to it? Did you imagine something better than what is right in front of you? Do you think it is too much work?—Facing questions like these will give us access to the present.  

 

GIVING YOUR PRESENCE TO ILLUSION OR LOVE?

 

The kingdom of self and the kingdom of God are two opposing polarities. Which one of these kingdoms we give our presence to will shape everything about our relationships and thus our lives. The separated self spins stories to validate paranoia or manifest discontent. It’s the worry about tomorrow’s bills, the grudge over last night’s argument, or the regret over this morning’s decision. It's the voice whispering, “You have more important things to focus on than loving the one in front of you.” In following the detached identity’s narrative, you forfeit the very substance of life—the present. 

 

Now let us not be confused. We are not saying that you should never think of the past or plan for the future. We are saying that there are two systems; one will use the past and the future to rob you of the present, while the other will use the past and the future to magnify love and meaningfulness in the present. When we operate from the heavenly Mind, the past testifies to Love and the future anticipates it. Love has no problem making plans for the future or celebrating the past. It just does not allow the past or the future to replace love in the present. 

 

WHEN A FAMILY IS NOT PRESENT

 

When children grow up with parents who are present in body but whose minds are far away, fighting wars against the past or future, it will likely act as an assault on their self worth, deepening their heart’s disconnection and insecurity. When spouses are present in body but far away in mind, it does the same thing, insulting their partner’s worth, and reinforcing the idea that both members are really on their own. To experience wholeness and healing in our family, we must begin by giving them our presence. 

 

TRANSITIONING TO LOVE

 

Shifting from a temporal-absent mindset to the eternal-present mindset first requires awareness. Once you are aware of the two systems, you only need willingness and God’s Spirit in you will do the rest. You now know that thoughts like, “I’m stressed”, or “I’m mad,” or “they still owe me” are merely ideas that exist outside of God’s present kingdom, and those ideas will only have power to rule your present to the extent that you allow them to. This understanding is all you need to begin the transition into love. By inviting this shift, you invite grace to touch every part of your life. Grace is when you receive what you didn’t earn, or when you give someone else something they didn’t earn. Those who practice grace find their relationships become a sanctuary of peace and joy. These are the simple beliefs that bring grace to households and closeness to family members. We must take back our moments, and make them pulse with connection. The eternal present isn’t just a nice idea—it is the dwelling place of God. Love doesn’t live in then or there, where division festers. It lives here, right now, every time you say, “I choose you now, regardless.”