I've seen this written and spoken so many times but today it set in. We live life daily as if tomorrow is coming and the past has never left us. We focus on the past as it creates the defining lines of our personage, and we look to the future as our way out of the uncertainty of the present. As I read today, while waiting on my 4th iPhone to sync up, it dawned on me how we try to control life instead of living it and appreciating each moment we have as it comes.
I journey back to an old familiar passage in Matthew 6. I thought I had been living by these scriptures but I realize now it was only in a brief capacity. Matthew 6:25-33 tells us not to worry, but I think an often overlooked message is to live right now in this moment.
“That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? 26Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? 27Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?
28“And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, 29yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. 30And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?
31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ 32These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. 33Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.
34“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.
I focus today on verses 27 and 34. Verse 27 asks can you add a single moment to your life by worrying...and truthfully that is all we have...this very moment. We are not God so we cannot add another moment to our lives! This breath we inhale in this moment represents the extent of our lives. Think about it. Inhale and exhale...that is all you have. No longer should you be confined to your past because as each moment passes, it no longer matters. Yes it happened and at some point you have to feel and deal with the pain because the pain will keep you bound. But once you do, it no longer imprisons you. It no longer keeps you from God's greatness.
And looking at verse 34, tomorrow does not matter. But why should it? Tomorrow is not promised. It does not exist and yes you can plan for it, but it should not be greater than your living in the present with God. We should not focus on worrying because God promises to meet all our needs (Php 4:19, Psalm 23).
I used to spend so much time rehashing the past that I missed out on enjoying those present moments. I can't get that time back. Neither can you. I also used to plan like a controlling madwoman for my future. So when those plans I had did not manifest, it crushed me...adding to my painful past. Once I began to surrender that need to control to God, things stopped being so serious. Things stopped being such a big deal. As I gain more and more freedom, I see how much peace and joy I have and love I feel by living in this moment. You don't get this moment back, so start living in it!
You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath." Interlude Psalm 39:5
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