Recently a friend said to me, "If you're depressed, you're worried about the past. If you're anxious, you're worried about the future. Be comfortable and live in the present. You only have today." She's absolutely right, and we need reminded of it often. You will experience many times in in your relationship where you will be worried about something: time, money, health, an argument. But our Father tells us not to worry. His exact words through Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 6 starting in verse 25:
"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 than food, and the body more 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? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers 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—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."
My darlings, you cannot change the past, so don't worry about it. Learn from it. You have no clue what the future holds, so just leave it in the perfectly capable hands of the Father. But you are responsible for today and every decision you make. As I said to your brother recently: "Be faithful, be obedient, and you will be fine."
If something comes up that instantly starts to worry you, we have two pieces of advice. Firstly, whisper the name of Jesus repeatedly. It will center you immediately and you'll feel a peace almost instantly. Secondly, give it to God. Go in prayer and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Knowing you have given it to Him, rest assured you are covered.
"Today is a gift. That's why they call it the present," so delight in it. Make a memory. Learn something new. Meet a person's need. And glorify God through it all.
Discussion: What are some worries you both have that you can take to God in prayer this day?
Prayer: Almighty Creator, how at rest we can be knowing you have time in your hands. We relinquish this day to you and ask for your Holy Spirit nudgings to know where you need us to be and what you want us to do. Father, we uplift our concerns for the future to you, asking for your help and guidance and knowing in faith, you've got this. We love you, Lord. In the precious name of Jesus. Amen.
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