So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ NLT

It can be challenging to “live in the present”.  For many of us, our performance of the past and the possibilities of the future prohibit us from seeing the promise of the present.

We often look for the common thread between what we have done, what we are doing and what we will do.  We are conditioned to expect our future return even though we are still evaluating our present investment.

In our finite comprehension, we long for an infinite constant.  Jesus is described as being “the same yesterday, today and forever.” (Heb 13:8 NLT).  He transcends all time.  He has forgiven our past, He is fully in our present and He has already fulfilled our future.  He is our perpetuity.

Reliving The Past.  

We wrestle with moments of past struggles and monuments of past successes.  One causes hurtful regrets, while the other hollow rejoicing.  The past is never really comprised of the “good ol’ days” . . . they were just days.  Sir Issac Walton penned an old hymn, “O God Our Help In Ages Past”.  Jesus is able to see our past and cover it with His blood.  Regrets have been redeemed and rightness has been restored. The psalmist illustrated this, “as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” (Ps 103:12 ESV).  His resurrection releases us from the eternal results of our past. Guilt is gone. Grace is given.

Resting in The Present.  

God’s presence is with us, today.  He tells us that He will never “leave us or forsake us.” (Heb 13:5 ESV)  The hurt of “what could have been” and the hope of “what can be” must yield to the hour of “what is”.  He delivers us from the past and determines our future . . . now we can delight in the present.  He wants each of us to see the “miracles of the moment”.  He is waiting to see if we will wait on Him, today.  The psalmist wrote, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (‭Ps‬ ‭27‬:‭14‬ ESV)

Reaching For The Future.  

Future plans must be framed properly.  James reminds us of our fragile existence. “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)  Paul understood that reaching forward to the future requires a focus.  He noted, “. . . But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (‭Phil‬ ‭3‬:‭13-14‬ NIV)  Our forward thinking always focuses on His call in our lives.

Songwriter Tommy Walker reminds us of our One-of-a-Kind God.

Only a God like you could be worthy of my praise,

And all my hope and faith.

To only a King of all kings Do I bow my knee and sing,

Give my everything.

To only my Maker, my Father, my Savior

Redeemer, Restorer, Rebuilder, Rewarder.

To only a God like you, do I give my praise.

Trust in Him . . . the only One.

He paid for your yesterday.  

He is present in your today.  

And, He promises your tomorrow.

He is our Redeemer, Restorer, Rebuilder and Rewarder.