“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” Matthew 6:34 (The Message).
Last time we were together I admitted how I was frustrated with myself for being less like the centurion with his rock-solid faith and more…human.
Then it hit me. I was forgetting a very valuable lesson found in Matthew 6:34, and I love the way The Message Bible states it so clearly: “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”
God promises to supply whatever we need for today. I was trying to take the strength (and faith) God gave me this summer and get a few more uses out of it. However, each day’s strength has an expiration date. I need to renew my strength, God’s strength really, every day for the particular trials I’ll face that specific day. Then and only then will I build up my faith.
It’s similar to a new lifestyle of eating or exercising. I can’t work hard at changing my body and then expect that hard work for six months or a year to last my lifetime. No, after I’ve met my goal, I need to make the choice to eat healthy and move my body every day.
That’s what God wants me to do regarding all areas of my life. He designed us to need to continue to draw close to Him – whether for job circumstances, health crises, personal and/or family situations, or financial trouble. All areas of our life.
Now I know the reason I was struggling today, yesterday, and last week. I was trying to use the strength God gave me two months’ ago to fight the problems I’m facing today. Instead, I’m going to choose to take the skills He taught me last summer and continue to use them on a daily basis. Praising Him for the blessings He gives while we wait, trusting that He’ll make all things good for those who are called according to His purpose, and working hard at the assignments He wants me to pursue as He provides them. Lastly, I’m going to try and enjoy the journey as much as I can while excitement builds regarding what He has planned next.
© 2013 Cheri Swalwell