“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” Mathew 6:34 (ESV).
Unfortunately, we live in a fast pace and speedy progress culture. We want to move onto the next thing as soon as possible and we lose our patience over a stupid traffic light that stays red for too long. Our “now” focus has shaped our perspective on God’s heart instead of looking and relying on His word to shape our hearts.
God’s love for us is incredibly patient. For real, our heavenly Father cares so deeply about us in the present–who we are right now. He isn’t waiting for us to become perfect to give us the gift of His love and joy. He isn’t holding back living in communion with us until we finally get over a certain sin. He is crazy about us right now, in this moment.
There is a verse I want us to meditate on today and I hope it changes our perspective just a little bit. Mathew 6 illustrates God’s provisional nature and questions why we have a lack of faith, “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life” and then it continues at the end of the chapter, “… O you of little faith? But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
God takes care of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field and we still decide to be impatient about something. Let us listen to His spirit today as we try to live in the abundant life that Jesus died for us to have. He promises to give us what we need if we seek Him first, not second or third, but first. We should give God the patience that He deserves, in response to His patient love for us. We should live in the moment and not be anxious about tomorrow in response to the faith that He has instilled in us.
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7
“You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” James 5:8
God is currently shaping and molding you into a child with a greater sense of His love every day. The process of this will be hard, but making the conscious choice of engaging in the present and living in the moment will set your heart on God. He is providing for you every single day even when you don’t see it. May you find pure stoke, patience, and purpose by living in the present.
CHALLENGE
– What burden have you been carrying around that is grounded in the past or future instead of the present?
– How will you respond to God’s love and patience that he expresses towards you?
By Ian Andridge | Jackson Hole, WY