Being Present in the Now

Listen to this Ministry Message Moment

It is easy to be concerned about tomorrow (how will I pay my bills or when will I meet that special someone?) that sometimes we forget to be present in the now. When our thoughts for the future consume us, concern turns to worry, worry turns to anxiety and anxiety can render us utterly ineffective in being able to address the tasks at hand. I often find my gaze stuck in the forward position, always dreaming of what will be and absent from what actually is. In order to re-align my perspective I latched onto the phrase “being present in the now”.

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” The “all these things” spoken of here concerns “life, body, food and clothes,” the same things we strive after. We are encouraged that our worry for them will diminish when we instead focus on the life of our soul and the purposes of Christ in us. When our priority is kingdom business and walking in obedience to God’s plan, than the blessed by-product is the release of God’s provision for life’s necessities.

Being present in the now is an awareness of what God requires of us today so we can adequately build for tomorrow. Matthew 6 goes on in verse 34 and reminds us: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” When we focus on the future it’s as though we are inviting the problems of tomorrow to be added to the challenges we are already facing today. This of course, would be silly, a waste of time, and highly unproductive. Let us instead, be fully present in the now and seek only those things that concern what Christ is doing in and through our lives today.

(Prayer): “Lord we ask you to would help us keep our gaze fixed upon you so we don’t miss a single opportunity to walk in your purposes and to partner with the promise of your provisions. Thank you and we pray this in Jesus name. Amen.