Have you ever been overwhelmed by your plans? It is the way of the world to make plans and always look to the future and forget to be present. Most of us make plans because we are dissatisfied with the here and now. For those of us that are not dissatisfied with the here and now, we make plans because we are told it is the responsible thing to do. However, does not today have enough that requires our attention? When we are present we are able to be in full awareness of what God is doing in our lives. What He is showing us and teaching us. Worrying about tomorrow does nothing but take our focus from right now. Right now has so much for us. In fact scripture goes a step further and says, “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.” (James 4:13-15 NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:34 NIV
We are not to conform to the ways of the world. That is such a difficult task because we are surrounded by culture all the time. This is why right now requires so much of our attention. When we are distracted by the future and going to the next place in our lives we tend to revert to autopilot. This is when we start acting the way the world acts and making rationalizations about being the way the world is. To have our minds renewed and transformed requires our ability to turn away from the ways of the world. We can only do this when we stay close to God and ask for His help in every area of our lives. Most especially in the areas that we do not know what to do. His will for us is right here. It is right now. There is certainly a time in each of our days that we do not know what to do. What do we do in those situations? Do we ask God for His direction or do we turn to the world? We stand a much better chance of not conforming to the world when we focus more on now. His will will be done. We must trust that.
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2 NIV
Considerations for your planner:
- How have you been present today? Write it down.
- How have you not been present today? Write it down.
A Story of Not Conforming:
Living only in today is so hard. I have spent the better part of my life making plans for the future and thinking about what is ahead. I know I found comfort making plans. However, living this way always felt like something was missing.
The past 2 years have really changed my perspective on plans. Between the isolation of COVID and moving to another country I have learned to not depend on any plan, because circumstances continually change. I have been forced to be more present than I have ever been. This time has pushed me so far outside of my comfort zone.
As my family's time living outside of the US comes to a close, I am confident in what the future holds for me because of how much trust I have in God to stay focused on today. I actually find comfort in staying present and not becoming consumed by plans for my future. I have learned a closeness with God I did not think possible, which gives me such peace for the continuous change that presents in my life.
- Anonymous
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