TIME Magazine’s “Year in Review” articles are like birthdays. Once a year, we look back and celebrate getting to another year. However, as we look forward, that’s where we have no power over the looking glass.
Humans have such a capacity to worry about and plan out the future, but realize that your future’s not as exciting as the present plans unfolding in your life. I can’t help but great freakishly, goosebumps-worthy excited over life, as it’s full of surprises and goodness. We might think that tomorrow will be uncomfortable and different, so we get hung up on the future. But, you weren’t made for that.
Today, we’re told to be different. I’m sure some Bible-quoting crazy person (they’ve got your back) has come up to you and told you that the Bible says not to worry about tomorrow, because it does! TODAY is your day, and this day is also the Lord’s. You might focus on your future, but He’s working right now.
Taking a look at Esther in the Bible, we see that her cousin Mordecai talked some sense into her about focusing on today, not tomorrow. As we know, the advisor of King Xerxes of Persia was shiftily working to make practicing the Jewish faith an act of treason and punishable by death. Esther, a Jewish woman, was among a few chosen to present themselves as a potential wife before the king. Esther became his chosen wife, and she was given his ear. Mordecai gave her the timely advice to speak to the king about his advisor. Esther 4v14 shows Mordecai’s words, “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”
Mordecai is literally telling her, “God is giving you this opportunity, right now, to do something amazing for His purposes. Do it now, while today is before you, because the time for action is now.”
Look at your life, and ask yourself if your present actions are honoring all that God has given you. God doesn’t tell us that in the midst of our good times and future times He is there. He tells us He is always in our midst. Zephaniah 3v17 says, The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” He is with you in the gladness and the turmoil, and He’s with you eternally. We’re not meant to focus on whether God will be planning, protecting, guiding, and leading our lives tomorrow, because we know He will. Instead, we must focus on the day and plans He has for us now. Ephesians 4v1 says, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”
Live a life worthy of the calling you have received. One, you are a called child of a Living Savior, a Universe Maker, a Promise Keeper, and Kingdom Builder. He is promising life eternal, as an alternative to the fiery pits of Hell, gifting you a home in heaven which is under construction. Two, you are to live worthy of your calling, not because you can be good enough to earn your keep in heaven, but because it displays how deeply Christ’s love has changed you and shapes you. If you do not allow the Spirit to work in your life, you do not take up your cross and the forgiveness of your sins daily, you do not see the fruits of grace pouring through your life — MAYBE, just maybe, you need to work on being more obedient to Christ and His calling for your life.
Today is the day you were created for. Every day is a newly-crafted gift. You open it and see as it unfolds. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s gifts, as they’re not coming any sooner. You’re not promised tomorrow, and today will already be full. Focus on what things God may have for you today, and live worthy of that calling.
XOXO,
Rae