Yesterday is gone and cannot be repeated. Tomorrow has not arrived and cannot be predicted.  Yet, there are times when I find myself trying to relive yesterday and jump into tomorrow. The pendulum of my mind swinging back and forth between the two—wishing I had done something differently in the past, while trying not to carry the mistakes of this same past into tomorrow.  The emotions generated in this oscillating mindset can range from regret to anxiety to fear, all of which can be paralyzing if I let them.  

The pendulum swings again, settling itself at its base, a peace envelopes me—reminding me of God’s love and the gift of living fully today.  

Today.  I missed today and its moments, too busy focusing on yesterday and tomorrow while today ticks by. God’s grace and blessings go unnoticed because my actions and thoughts are focused on things that only he can control. I’m letting today be stolen from me.  

God’s word provides the reminder that:

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. -John 10:10 NKJV

How am I living abundantly today if I’m letting it be stolen from me? Today. The day that gets the short end of the stick. The day that waves its hand for attention saying, “I’m here waiting for you to live fully in what I have to offer.” But yesterday and tomorrow are shouting louder, “Remember me? What about me?” Today steadily passes by because it’s not yesterday or tomorrow.  

Today stops waving its hand, tired of begging for attention, but whispers instead, “I will be your tomorrow and what will you have done with me?” This resonates with me. Today is what I have.  It’s what God has blessed me with. Today is what you have and what you are blessed with as well.  

Psalm 118:24 has been shared various times in sermons and messages of encouragement:

This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it. –Psalm 118:24 NKJV

The day that we’re in has been made by God, created specifically for us to rejoice and to be glad in it. However, in living in the past or future, emotions other than joyfulness or gladness outweigh what God wants us to experience on this day. How do we live in all that this day has to offer?  

As simple as it sounds, we begin by thanking God for this day. Rejoice and be glad that we’re here to see this day, knowing that someone else may not have gotten the chance to do so. Enjoy the moments of the day by being present in them while loving ourselves and those around us. Count the blessings present in today and don’t delay in accomplishing our daily goals. As a result, we live intentionally in each moment regardless of what the day brings. This doesn’t mean to ignore the moments that challenge our feelings or faith, but to know they serve a purpose in the day. It does mean not to look back on the past or forward into the future, permitting them to steal today from us.  

Sometimes I ask myself, “What if I knew today was my last day on Earth? What would I do differently?” These are powerful questions that help me to be deliberate in my thoughts and actions as I live fully today, not wishing it were tomorrow or trying to fix yesterday. All I have is today and must make it count. 

Remember:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. –Matthew 6:34 NKJV

Today will be tomorrow’s yesterday that we can’t get back. The future is something we have yet to see. To live fully today we must give it our all.  Don’t let it slip by.  

Be focused and purposeful.  

We have today.  

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay