Oh, I am preaching to myself today! I am the worst at worrying about tomorrow. I know in my head that God is the only one in control of tomorrow. I know in my head that so many things could happen by tomorrow that this situation will not even matter. I make it bigger and bigger. In the dark - in the middle of the night - that is when I could really snow ball things. I no longer do that because as soon as it starts I say, "Jesus, you know I cannot handle this. I thank You for taking care of it. I know these thoughts are not of you so please take them away." After a month of doing that if I wake up at night and any negativity tries to creep in I just say, "thank you, Jesus, for taking care of." And I go right off to sleep. But during the day I make plans and even back up plans - just in case....
Matthew 6: 31-34, " So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
How much time do we spend worrying about the future? Too much time! We struggle about what is going to occur in the future. Who is coming for the holidays, how many, will they get along, are they spending the night, etc. We will worry at times but we cannot let that prevent us from living in the present. We can plan for our future - I believe God wants us to be wise but not worry about the future. The problem occurs when we become too focused on the future that we stop living in the present. We encounter God when we are in the present. He was there with us in the past and will be with us in the future. But He is with us right now. Don't miss a moment with Him. He may need you to minister to someone else. It is in the every day mundane moments of life when God speaks to us. Are you missing His call?
The Bible tells us that we should keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5: 25, "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." I do not ever remember this verse. Wow, I am running ahead of the Spirit when I start worrying about tomorrow. When those unforeseen obstacles come in my path I see them as obstacles and I start stressing. That leaves me emotionally drained. When I keep in step with the Spirit, Jesus can work with me. He can help me change what I need to change today. He can teach me things through what I see and hear today. I can miss out on so many blessings when I am not seeing today!
In regards to the future, we must remember Matthew 6: 25-34, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or your body, what you will wear… Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? … If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith… But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself”.
Let's remember we do not know what tomorrow will bring. James 4: 13-16, "Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil." Let's slow down and stay in the present so we can be in God's presence. Psalm 46: 10, "He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Don't leave Jesus behind, step with the Spirit!
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