Right Now Living

The other day, a friend of my husband went to see the Dalai Lama, who was visiting Chicago this month. What impressed him most was something that he said about living in the moment. For example, when you are washing dishes you should be focusing on the act of washing dishes rather than planning your afternoon, or thinking of the next 15 or 20 tasks you need to complete.

This really got me thinking. I believe I spend so much of my time planning and organizing and living in the future because I want to control it. I want to prevent catastrophes. I want to control my present via thinking ahead to my future.

But God has made it very clear that this is not what he wants for me. For us.

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”
James 4:13-15

Now at first glance this is a verse warning against arrogance and self-confidence. But on the flip-side, this is also a promise. It is an instruction to rely on the Lord’s plan for us – because he has our lives mapped and planned out. We don’t have to waste our now on worrying about the future.

…I have cared for you since you were born. Yes, I carried you before you were born. I will be your God throughout your lifetime — until your hair is white with age. I made you and I will care for you,. I will carry you along and save you.
Isaiah 46:3b-4

There is a whole lot of freedom and peace in these promises! God is telling us that we are free to live! We are free to enjoy living. We do not have to carry the weight of controlling life on our shoulders, in our minds, on our hearts. In fact, He has let us know that the future is His responsibility, and He’s got it covered.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Will you join me today in just living right now? Let’s start our morning with a conversation with our Abba, letting him know we’re grateful for this PRECISE moment! Let’s thank Him for whatever he has in store for us today – and let Him know that we trust that he will give us what we need when we need it to handle our future when it arrives! May we have a Right Now Day…