Days of our Lives!

As we consider the days of our lives, they are varied with regard to occurrences and expectations. There are activities and events we look forward to as well as things of the past on which we love to reflect.
Yesterday was a day I looked forward to because it was “Grandparents Day” at the school where our grand-twins, Andrew and Eric, attend. What made it most special for me was that they were excited about me sharing the day with them. I hope they remember the day as I will.

I recognize “The Days Of Our Lives” is the title of a soap opera that has been on for years and it is true some people’s lives may be exactly that -- a soap opera. But how do we focus on the relationship between the days of our lives? There are three categories our days may be placed in:
YESTERDAY, TODAY, and TOMORROW. How we live life focused on each of these groupings is important.

The statement has been made: “Yesterday is history; tomorrow is a mystery; focus on the here and now because it is the present that you control.” [author unknown]

Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not yet within our grasp or control.
Certainly things done TODAY will impact our tomorrows, but tomorrow’s actualities are not fully known to us. Though known to God, to us the things of tomorrow are a mystery. Sometimes we become a bit anxious regarding what is not under our control. However, a greater mistake we may make is to plan as if everything is!

James exhorted…
“(13) Come now, you who say, ‘TODAY OR TOMORROW WE WILL go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ --
(14) yet YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT TOMORROW WILL BRING. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” (James
4:13-14 ESV)

The sin is not in laying out a plan, but in doing so as if it all were a sure thing. It is always a grave mistake when we leave God out of the picture as we make our plans. TODAY is the day God has given and we should thank Him for it as we use it to His glory. We must plan realizing that not only do we not know what tomorrow might bring, but that God might choose to not bring tomorrow about at all. The future is in His hands to either give or withhold. How we live TODAY and the manner in which decisions are made should be done with that in mind.

James went on to point out the focus we ought to have.
“(15) Instead you ought to say, ‘IF THE LORD WILLS, WE WILL LIVE AND DO THIS OR THAT.’” ( James 4:15 ESV)

“IF THE LORD WILLS!” Those aren’t magic words to simply associate with our life. They are not merely the label to stick on our plans as if to validate them. They are to be words of honest acknowledgment of God’s Sovereignty, trusting faith in His providence, and willing submission to the wisdom of His Will. May that be our focus for living TODAY!

Have a great day LIVING TODAY TRUSTING GOD!
Carl

See other teEn-MAIL on Christian Behavior