We had two rescue dogs, Bella and Lila. They were border collie/Lab sisters who loved to guard our property. We lived on the second floor of our house - up in the trees. My kitchen window looked out over the front yard where I watched Bella and Lila chase squirrels. I think the squirrels knew about the underground fence because they would taunt them from that line. I have known them to stand by a crepe myrtle for hours waiting for a squirrel to come down. Finally, I would call them inside so the poor squirrel could get away. But the whole time they sat focused on that one squirrel - many more scurried around our yard. They were so focused on the one squirrel to see the life around them!
As the holidays approach, I fall into the trap of thinking about all of the things I have to get done. The multi-tasking makes it harder to appreciate each accomplishment. There is no time because we have moved on the next thing. If we get too caught up in our tasks then we begin thinking, "I will be glad when this is over!" God is ready to help us with this if we just let Him. Psalm 46: 10, "Be still and know that I am God." God lives in the now! When He revealed Himself to Moses, He said, "'I Am Who Am” (Exodus 3:14). He did not say, “I was who was” or “I will be who will be.” He said, “I Am.” And that is in the now, in the present.
Another reason we need to be in the present is because God made this day for us. Psalm 118: 24, " The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad." The past is unchangeable and the future is but a result of your action today. Learning from the past will help you do better in the present. Doing better in the present will help you succeed in the future. We do not want to miss a message from Him today. We do not want to miss out on an opportunity He has for us today. When we are in the now we can see the blessings around us today! God wants us to pay attention to now. The word "now" is found 365 times in the NIV translation of the New Testament! It must be important! We have only been promised now. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not arrived. What you do NOW will determine what happens in your tomorrows.
As we prepare for the holidays, let's remember that no one accomplished more on earth than Jesus. And no one was more present with God than Jesus. John 5: 19, "Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does." Being in constant contact with God taught Jesus how to appreciate the value of every moment.
You will never get today back. Wayne Dyer said, "Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed." Living in the present is crucial to living a better life. Alice Morse Earle said, "Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”
Comments