Don’t Lose Today!

It’s so easy getting consumed with tomorrow, you wind up losing today. Over the years, I have known a great many people who were so consumed with what tomorrow “might” bring that they lost all the enjoyment of today. Life, for many, is filled with worries and concerns of what their future could “possibly” bring.

Jesus countered this mind-set when He said: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 CSB). It’s enough for a person to make it through today without overbearing themselves with what might possibly happen tomorrow. Apparently, worrying is nothing new. Jesus took time during His Sermon on the Mount to deal with the issue and His words continue to offer strength and encouragement when worry begins to overwhelm us.

He started out by saying: “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky: they don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?” (Mt 6:25-26). In today’s vernacular, He is telling us, “Don’t worry, I got this! I got you covered. I’m taking care of your problems for you.”

He goes on saying: “So don’t worry, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ For the idolaters eagerly seek all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them” (Mt 6:31-32). Here, He is heaping on even more encouragement as He tells us that GOD is well aware of every “need” we have. Then, He throws in a word of caution, warning us to refrain from becoming so obsessed with earthly possessions that they become idols to us. As we allow ourselves to become obsessed with having the “things” everybody else has, worry of how we will obtain our “new desire” will overwhelm us.

We must be so careful that we are spending our lives pursuing after what is right for our lives. Jesus finishes His discourse by directing us down the right path of thought. He tells us: “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Mt 6:33). In other words, quit seeking after what this world treasures. Turn your attention to the LORD and seek after those things that hold eternal value. Then, GOD will provide the things that you need.

As you learn to place your trust completely in Him, you will find peace for today and not be worrying about tomorrow. It is very easy to lose today worrying about tomorrow. Don’t do it—don’t lose today!

Scripture Reading: “Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these! If that’s how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, won’t He do much more for you-you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:28-30 CSB).

Prayer: Father in heaven, I have spent too many years worrying about what tomorrow might bring, only to discover it never came to pass. I have lost a great deal of time in my life concerning myself with problems and issues that I allowed to overwhelm me. I pray You give me the strength I need to place my trust completely in You for all I need. Help me to lay aside my desires for things that others have and to focus my eyes and my heart upon things that have eternal value. I trust in You today—in Jesus’ name, AMEN!