I like to have a game plan.
As a college student I am thinking about things from
clubs to classes. It is a different lifestyle. One day I may have classes till
early afternoon, drive to a community service event, then come back to school
for an evening banquet. My major gives me the responsibility of mastering
various disciplines in my field, so I’m forced to figure out what I should be
studying for the next week. College life seems to be all about schedules,
planning, and getting ahead.
Apart from school, I have all kinds of everyday things to
work in; from car inspections to grocery trips to dental appointments to oil
changes. As a “picky dresser” I start Sunday evening by picking a week’s worth
of clothing. Otherwise, I will try on five outfits, before I go with the first
choice. I like crossing off the calendar days as I get closer to an event we
have been planning for or an upcoming birthday party to attend.
I’m living for tomorrow.
When tomorrow finally comes around, I think about the
next day. Makes for a busy week. Now I’m not saying it is wrong to plan ahead;
I might not study if I don’t have a schedule or I might become a neighborhood
restaurant regular if I didn’t plan time to cook. I am simply saying that
sometimes we are so caught up in planning for tomorrow, that we forget about today.
We forget about right now.
Christ Jesus told us “Give your entire attention to what
GOD is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not
happen tomorrow [Matthew 6:34, Message].”
At times, that is a little difficult for me. As a
collegian, so much of my energy is wrapped up in tomorrow; I do like to have a
solid idea about what will be happening next.
But GOD calls us to be present; to not obsess about the
pressures of tomorrow and learn to live more fully in today’s moments.
Earlier in Matthew 6, Christ talks about how the lilies
are more beautiful than any clothing store can design. He also says how the
birds of the air don’t plant or store away things for later yet they have food
to eat. That sounds like being a cozy heir; that is what GOD wants to do for
us. He knows our needs and will provide. I don’t need to stress about the future.
GOD promised us in Jeremiah 29:11 that He already has a life strategy for each
of us. All that is left for us to do is stop, trust and “Be Present.”
Now that sounds like a great plan.
Encounter the Word:
“And this same GOD who takes care of me will supply all
your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ
Jesus.” --Philippians 4:9 [NLT]
Encounter:
- What are some things you like to plan for? What plans stress you out? Why?
- What would happen if you let GOD lead in your plans? What might you experience in your today?
- Where in your life might you trust GOD a bit more?
- What steps can you take to rely more on Christ Jesus and discover His game plan?
Devotional by Barbara Quaye of Younger Generation Church. Posted by A. Allan Martin by permission.
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