"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself..."
~ Matthew 6:34
What if instead of worrying about positive thinking, we began to orient ourselves toward present thinking?
Present
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Positive
Being present in the present has a power of its own. And, I suspect is a good part of the reason the Bible instructs us to take every thought captive.
Being present in the moment we're inhabiting not only makes life more beautiful and reduces our cognitive load, it's the only place we can actually get anything done, the only place we can begin to make changes that will move us closer to what matters to us.
Just to clarify, I am not suggesting we shouldn't have a vision and plan for the future. If you know me, you know I'm a big advocate of both.
I'm not saying live in the present to the expense of anything else, I'm simply suggesting it's important to play with the power of being present in the present and making whatever difference you can, in the here and now.
Living that way will make a difference. But, it takes practice.
In the Matthew verse above, we are admonished not to worry about tomorrow because there's enough to occupy our minds and fill our time today. (That's the Mercedes translation, by the way.)
Far too often, we dwell on regrets of yesterday, things we wish we could go back and change or do better.
If we had access to time travel, perhaps that would be thinking worthy of pursuit. Alas, without a flux capacitor modified DeLorean, it's probably not the kind of rabbit warren of thought or black hole we want to be exploring. And frankly, it's a waste of time and energy.
Must we learn from the past? Yes. But, hang out there? No.
The future can be just as treacherous when it comes to draining away our mental space, time, and energy. So often, what we worry about is something that will never come to be. And, even if it ever does, stressing about it today robs today of joy and peace.
One of the most powerful realizations I have ever had about worry was when it hit me that by worrying about any circumstance at all, I was basically telling the Creator of the universe that He clearly couldn't handle whatever I was concerned about. I realized I don't want to spend my life looking to Him and saying I didn't trust Him for _____.
Whatever it is, I trust Him for it, and that helps me to keep my noggin out of tomorrow.
Granted, if we can take some action, if we can do something about it, whatever it may be, then we should absolutely step up and do it. That's responsible co-laboring. But, if not...
Trust.
And, make a difference wherever you can in the here and now. Making a difference in any area of life gives us the tranquility that comes with accomplishment and therefore improves all areas of life.
If we are able to train our mind, heart, attention, and be-ing to exist in the here and now, we are more open and available to creativity, to being able to employ that brainpower and energy to actions that can actually have an impact in the world and in our lives, and it makes us present and available to hear what the Father is whispering to our hearts.
We know we were created on purpose for a purpose, so if we can get present to all of the blessings in our lives, orient ourselves to what's so, and take a deep breath, we have access to living each moment on purpose with purpose, fully present and living into His purposes.
Heavenly Father,
We love You. We need You. We choose You. We are Yours.
Thank You for helping us to plan for the future, to strategize and act with diligence. And, while we are doing so, to honor Your purposes for us in the present, to take every thought captive, and to take action in the only moment where we have influence and can make a difference, the only time in which we can take ground, the here and now.
Thank You for helping us to be still and present with you, no matter what we are walking through.
In the name Your Son we pray.
Amen.
"We tear down arguments and every presumption set up against the knowledge of God; and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." ~ 2 Corinthians 10:5
"“Do not call to mind the former things; pay no attention to the things of old. Behold, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert." ~ Isaiah 42:19
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." ~ 1 Peter 2:9
May the Good Lord bless you and keep you, friends... always, in all ways. Amen.
Bonus song of praise... ♥
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