Here we are at a new day and a new year. We fall into a situation so many times where we regret the past or worry about tomorrow. I personally forget to live in the present and enjoy what God has given me today. Concerning the past, we can learn from our mistakes, concerning the future, we can prepare and learn to trust God. It’s sometimes really hard to accept where God has put us. He is God and knows all things. We don’t always know why certain things happen as they do. But God is in them right now, even if we don’t understand.
Sunrise near the Columbia River
Here is the attitude we need for the future from 1 Peter 5:7. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” So our attitude needs to be one of trusting God for the future.
Our attitude should be thanking God for what we have today and not wishing for things to be different: This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it Psalm 118:24. We should have a thankful heart as Paul talks about in 1 Thessalonians 5:8 In every thing give thanks:for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Live in the now, thanking God for what we have, what He has given us in people, friends, family, relationships, spiritual blessings and material stuff. (Yes, even thank God for our stuff)
Thank Him for negative and hard things that teach us to thank and trust Him.
Sunset on the Columbia River
Thank God for the grace given to us through His Son Jesus Christ who took all our sins away and made a way for us to come to God just as we are. John 1:17 Grace came by Jesus Christ.
A 16th century monk in writing to comfort his wife said “Pray, and let God worry”. That was Martin Luther who did much to bring people back to the Bible and back to Jesus Christ.
Paul shares his attitude towards the past in Phil 3:13. but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Deer in the trees
We can learn to accept moving or not moving. We can accept who we are in God. We can accept what God has given us in talents, friends, relationships, spiritual and material stuff. We can accept our social and financial level in society, and not wish to be somewhere else. We can accept our marriage as from God, there is not a better mate for us. God did that just right. He has given us exactly what we need.
When we don’t accept we can easily fall into regret for the past and then carry a root of bitterness going forward. Eventually this makes us get old really fast and makes our life (not the other person) miserable. Do not get bitter, it will destroy you.
So our attitude towards the past and future is important. When it comes to the past we should forgive and forget. Thanking God for all He has given us. When it comes to the future we trust God and refuse to worry or carry a grudge. This leaves us living right now in the present thanking God for who He is and all that He has done for us. For the past, we always learn from our mistakes, for the future, we prepare as best we can and trust God.
Here is a simple way to pray: “Father God, thank You for what we have, what You have given us and what You will yet provide in the years to come. I give this day to You, I trust You and rely on You for all that we need”.
California Beach
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