We live in tomorrow-centric world. People plan their lives weeks, months and even years in advance. While being prudent and planning for the future is wise, we often in "Tommorrowland" never land or live in the here and now. Each day slips away from fears and anxieties about what the future holds. People lose a night's sleep because of the many stressors and yet Jesus said, "anxiety (worry) does not add an hour to your life." (Matthew 6:27). As believers we are called to live in the present. There is cute saying, "The past is the past, and future is the future, but the present is a present." How many days, hours, and moments are lost because of ceaseless striving for goals that cannot be met yet?
Jesus said, "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." (Matthew 6:33-34). Often we are seeking anything but His Kingdom. We awake each day with the troubles of tomorrow in our minds and we race to attend to matters that do not matter in grand majesty and mystery of God's plan. Our hearts are bound in time, and we race to beat the clock, and we never will. Only through Christ Jesus, who does not live in time () and we finally appreciate the time we have here on earth. We were never meant to live in so much stress, running to and fro on every blow of the wind in our lives. The surge of health problems in people today has been attributed to one thing, stress. Our God and Savior Jesus Christ made it clear, "worry will not add a day to your life," so why do it?
Obviously we cannot become indolent sloths who do nothing and never plan. That would be violating, "subdue the Earth (steward over it)." (Genesis 1:28). But the Lord also provided a Sabbath or day of rest. (Hebrews 4:10). Many people do not take this day of rest, nor do they come to Jesus who says, "come to me all who are weary and burdened and who need rest, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28). Sometimes we need a Sabbath that is in sum of weeks, called a vacation. More people are even refusing As to take time away from work, even though their companies have mandatory vacation days. Henry David Thoreau said, "Man is human being, not human doing. It should be Man on a farm, not a Farmer. He is not what he does, he is firstly a man." (Walden). And yet to the late Thoreau's dismay, man has become a human doing. People are striving to survive in the Neo-Industrial Revolution. They sacrifice their health, family, friendships, and even in some cases their faith to stay top gear in the machine at work.
As Christians we are not supposed to be caught up in this "Tomorrowland's" anxiety. Jesus said, "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?" (Matthew 6:25). In same passage our Lord says if His Father takes care of sparrows, how much more will He take care of you? When we feel the worry and anxiety of tomorrow or even any stressor, the Apostle Paul gives us instruction one what to do. He says, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Phillipians 4:6). As believers we are to pray, to plead with the Prince of Peace, that His peace may come to us, "not as the world gives." (). We are to give thanks, to remind ourselves of what the Lord God has already done for us, what he has bequeathed and blessed us already with; this does two things, firstly it changes our mood and attitude and increases happiness; secondly it reminds us that if He has already sustained us and helped us before, then He will again.
The Apostle Peter gives us a beautiful image in his words, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:7). This image of casting your cares on Christ is powerful, because it reminds us of how we casted our sin on Christ on the cross. Indeed, His care is known to us because, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8). So while you may need to plan for tomorrow, do not worry about tomorrow. Be wise and steward, but do not worry or stress. It is possible to plan and not be possessed with the pressure of the plan. King Solomon put it this way, "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans." (Proverbs 16:3). The point is you can make plans, but be ready for the Lord God Jesus Christ to make changes and really establish what you need to do. Sometimes God alters the plan, other times he changes it completely, sometimes he add more to the plan you have, or removes some of the steps that are adding stress.
Our goal should be to seek God's Kingdom (commune with Christ daily), plan for tomorrow without worry, and allow the Lord Jesus to adjust those plans. Only the Lord God can see tomorrow and if what we have planned with work or if it is the right plan; for Lord says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:9). Maybe we would be less stressed out if we let God be God and allow Him to help us plan our lives, and stop shouldering the burden ourselves.
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