Living for Today

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I am guilty of striving. Of keeping busy and not resting. Of worrying when I should be reading or spending time in the Word. Of working and doing, rather than sitting and listening.

Have you ever been that person in a conversation, where while a friend is talking you are just sitting there waiting to jump in and start talking? Guilty as charged. And if you raised your hand in agreement, I thank you for it—you’re in good company.

However, the older I get, the more I value listening. Listening provides contemplation, it brings about wisdom and a new perspective, and it allows one to rest. And bonus, not only do you get to rest, but the person talking gets to feel at peace as you actively listen to them. It builds a bond and a deeper relationship.

Our world is so distracted these days. Recently, I was out to dinner and my friend commented on how many people were on their phones during a meal, not even paying attention to what was really being said. It’s as though we are so worried about the next new thing that we forget to even enjoy the moment.

As many of you know, my story and testimony is wrapped up in a long season of singleness. In singleness there is waiting—but that’s not the only area of life where waiting happens. It can happen to anyone at anytime and we can be disgruntled and stressed if we’re not careful to enjoy the moment.

Jacqueline, our Women’s Ministry Director, once told me that she wished she had enjoyed each season of life a bit more. She ran through a list of life events and it did make me wonder for a moment.

She said, “When I was little, I wanted to grow up. When I was grown up I wanted to get to college. When I was in college I wanted to date. When I dated, I wanted to be engaged. When I was engaged, I wanted to be married. When I was married, I wanted to get pregnant. When I was pregnant, I couldn’t wait for the baby to be born. When Austen was born, I was so excited for him to walk … and on and on the list goes.”

Can you relate? I know I can.

There are seasons of life where we are so excited about what is to come that we forget to slow down and enjoy the season the Lord has us currently placed. For really if we think about it, these seasons, exactly where we are, will never come again in life. I will never be a child again, not worried about the things of adulthood and instead running around the backyard in barefeet, hair flying in the wind and dirt smeared all over my shirt. I will never be in middle school again, having sleepovers and staying up all night watching movies and eating candy. I will never be a teenager learning to drive again or making the big decision of where to go to college.

Life changes as time passes, and it is a good thing—but recently the Lord has been placing it on my heart to not worry about what tomorrow will bring and to instead remain in the moment. My assignment, no matter the season of life is to live for His glory

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6:34

Today. That is all we are to focus on. Today and not tomorrow. That’s our assignment.

Now, I ask you, how can you glorify the Lord today? A place to start is to not worry about tomorrow, but to instead thank Him for the season you’re in.

A dear friend of mine, Stephanie, has one of the best perspectives on life. On a day when I was doing anything but glorifying the Lord with my poor attitude while in a stressful situation, she simply said, “That’s a tomorrow problem, and it’s today.”

Is that not so simple and yet profound? Winnie the Pooh would be jealous.

Stephanie’s words of wisdom point right back to Scripture. We are not to worry about today or tomorrow I do believe my life would be better for it if I did.

For who am I that God would use me to glorify Him? Who am I that I would get to read His Word? Who am I that I get to experience the love of Christ?

Suddenly, when our perspective shifts, the annoyances of the day don’t seem so great. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow, nor do we have to worry about next month, this year or the next. We are assigned to this day and this time and all for the glory of God.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. – Matthew 6: 25-34

What would your day look like if you didn’t worry? What would you enjoy today if there was no tomorrow to worry about? Would you dance in the kitchen? Would you sing in the car a little louder? Would you out your phone down and truly talk to your spouse and unpack the day? Would you turn off your work email and instead spend time playing a game with your children?

So, why not? Why not let worry go? Why not open your hands and place it all before the Lord? A horse that is broken is not weak, it is simply a horse that knows the Master is in control.

So, why not enjoy the day, forgetting tomorrow and pressing on for what the Lord has at hand? Live for today with an upturned face, and a heart set on glorifying the One who made the day!

 

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