TOMORROW –TODAY – YESTERDAY

Scripture: Matthew 5-7

"Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God." Luke 9:62

Does the past have a big hold on us?  If it does, the past can cripple our present efforts and even cause us to abandon what could be a success for fear of failure..  How can a man walk looking backwards on a path that he has never ventured down and expect to get anywhere without falling or stumbling off a cliff?

If I look backwards to my past, I will be going forward as a blind man!

Is today a place for us to sit around and wish for tomorrow? 

Do we find ourselves barely existing from day to day, as we suffer from being emotionally exhausted?

Today can be a waste of time if the pain of yesterday is all we dwell upon as we worry about tomorrow! 

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-2

We need to break the power of the past and not let it dominate our present as we keep our focus on Jesus Christ.  Always trusting in where HE wants to lead us. It is so important that I leave yesterday in the past as I daily give myself to the purpose of following Jesus today.

"Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

We must not panic over what the future might bring or allow our past and present condition to convince us that tomorrow is going to be out of control.

Remember nothing is out of God’s control.

If we will forget about tomorrow and give God today, tomorrow has no power over us for it belongs to God.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

Jesus was not telling them to eat, drink and be merry as though today is all there is.  Jesus was trying to get them to see that if they would deal with today in a way that is pleasing to God, tomorrow, if it comes, will be our next today. 

All we have is today and tomorrow should not have an impact on us, because we are going to live today for God and when tomorrow comes it will be our today.  Every today is a decision to give our lives to God and trust him in all that we do, say or think. Don’t focus on the past or panic over what the future holds.  Focus on God today, allowing that to be the attitude of everyday that God grants us in this life.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus…Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Philippians 4:6-7; 1 Peter 5:7

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

HERE IS A SHORT PRAYER.  Father, help me to always let go of selfish concerns and give myself to YOU. Please allow instructions from YOUR WORD to find a place in my heart so that I will by faith not be given to the past or panic over the future, in Jesus name.  Amen.

SCRIPTURE: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:25-34

Mike Price

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