Today

Matthew 6:11 NIV Give us today our daily bread.

How you live today will play a large role in determining your tomorrow. Jesus instructed us to “not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34 NIV). But the enemy of our souls’ greatest tactic is to constantly whisper, “What about yesterday? What about tomorrow?” When we grasp God’s power of today, it will unleash His blessings by anchoring our focus on what the Lord is doing in our lives right now.

Jesus’ promise to the thief on the cross was “today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43); His promise to Zaccheus was “today salvation has come to your house” (Luke 19:9), and God’s promise to all of us is that “His mercies are new every morning; great is His faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:23). God’s provision of manna for the Israelites was for today; anything gathered in excess would spoil. God was daily demonstrating his goodness and faithfulness, teaching the Israelites to surrender their desire for control, trusting that God would provide again tomorrow (Exodus 16:4).

His call to us is to pray daily, seek his wisdom daily, walk with him daily, and choose today whom we will serve (Joshua 24:15). Not just on Sundays, but every day. By committing to this daily, we will grow and find life: “Blessed are those who listen to me (God’s wisdom), watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For those who find me, find life and receive favor from the Lord.” (Proverbs 8:34-35). And when we choose to “meditate on his law day and night,” we will flourish, “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers” (Psalm 1:3).

Our anger is to have an expiration date, and that is today. Ephesians 4:26 instructs us to “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26). How many offenses and conflicts would be dealt with by embracing the power of daily forgiveness. Paul goes on to write, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32).

Authentic Christianity is not a Sunday thing. God is not a supporting character in the story of our own personal fulfillment. Jesus said following Him means daily taking up our cross (Luke 9:23)—laying down our wants and desires and surrendering to God’s plan for our lives. As redeemed, spirit-filled Christ followers, we are to have an impact on the world around us that can be measured day by day, just as the early church did (Acts 2:46-47). We are called to encourage one another daily (Hebrews 3:13) and to daily earn the respect of others through our Christ-centered lifestyle (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12). Every day, we must ask ourselves—who did I encourage or impact today?

Stop replaying the events of yesterday in your mind and dreading the arrival of tomorrow. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24). We’ve been gifted the Holy Spirit to give us the mind of Christ and remind us of everything Jesus said (John 14:26). We’ve been given the word of God to meditate on so that our minds are transformed (Romans 12:2) and we can share in God’s wisdom. But we must engage in this process of transformation by living for today and experience all God has for us. Yesterday is history, and tomorrow is a mystery. All you have is today.

When you choose to let go of the guilt and shame from yesterday, the fear and anxiety over tomorrow’s uncertainties, then God is free to lead and guide you into His plan, His favor, and His blessings.

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Proverbs 27:1 NIV Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Psalms 5:3 NIV In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Proverbs 3:28 NIV Do not say to your neighbor, Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you— when you already have it with you today.

James 4:13-15 NIV Now listen, you who say, Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money. Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.

Matthew 6:27 NIV Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

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

Hebrews 3:13 NIV But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Psalms 68:19 NIV Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NIV Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

Acts 2:46-47 NIV Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Job 23:12 NIV I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.

Acts 17:11 NASB Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Hebrews 4:7 NIV Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 NIV See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse—the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

Exodus 14:13 NIV Moses said to the people, Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.

Luke 23:43 NIV Jesus answered him, Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.

Deuteronomy 7:11 NIV Therefore, take care to follow the commands, decrees and laws I give you today.

Isaiah 38:19 NLT Only the living can praise you as I do today. Each generation tells of your faithfulness to the next.

Psalms 71:17 NIV Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.