The Previews

Do you ever watch movies? I love movies. I especially love watching movies with my wife.

But there's one thing I have never, ever, ever liked about watching movies...THE PREVIEWS.

What a waste of time. When I go to see a flick at the theatre I usually like to get there 15 minutes after the published start time of the movie because that typically assures me of missing the bulk of the previews.

As I get older I am changing my mind about the previews a little bit. The Lord has changed my perspective of the previews over the past 7 years.

When I was 14 I felt the Lord begin telling me what he created me to accomplish with my life. It happened through prophetic words, life moments, and personal revelation from my time with the Lord. At the time I admit I was a little confused as to why God was telling me what he was telling me. What I heard and what he was actually saying were two very different things. I thought he was telling me how great I was, how much better I was than those around me, how much more important I was than they were. So stupid. Now I look back at those previews and see it in a whole new light.

I think the reason God gives us previews is partially because we're not quite ready for the movie. Maybe we are a little late, a little slow, in the wrong theatre, still buying popcorn, milk duds and sour patch kids, or whatever. If we are seeing the previews it means it's not time for the movie.

God is so gracious with us, with me. He knows the process. He knows the timeline. He knows when we will be ready enough. He knows that it is during the previews that we prepare for the movie. It is in the previews that we get excited enough about the movie to show up for the movie when it releases. In the previews we see snippets of the plot, of the danger, of the characters, of the movie. It is in the previews that we prove whether or not we can handle the box office success that is to come. It is in the previews that we learn that the best movies are not about great actors but great stories.

Enjoy the previews. The movie will begin shortly.