Do you struggle with living in the moment?
How often do you find yourself anxious about what the future brings? Do you spend a lot of time planning out every possible scenario in your head?
I’m what I would consider an obsessive planner. I absolutely love setting goals and working out how I’m going to get there. From the minute I get up in the morning, I’m running through my day, trying to determine if what I have planned is going to get me closer to my year-end goals, always trying to figure out the best strategy to accomplish my tasks so that I’m working efficiently.
Although being a goal-oriented person is definitely a strength, it can also be a huge weakness.
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Just recently, I was having a conversation with my oldest son who shares this same trait as me. He’s an obsessive planner too. (And possibly even more so than me.) He’ll map things out in his head, constantly making tweaks and changes to further align with the goals he has for himself. I love seeing him work through those goals and, more importantly, seeing him achieve them! I mean how many 22-year-olds have goals and work incessantly to accomplish them?
But being goal-oriented people, there’s one thing that he and I both struggle with….living with His Presence, in the present.
We spend so much time planning and preparing for our future and where we will be that we forget to take a step back and enjoy what’s right in front of us. We forget to enjoy the life that’s happening right now!
God expects us to plan and make a future for ourselves, but once that planning is done, He wants us to come back to the present with Him. To trust in Him to carry out those plans according to His Will, and to be able to fully enjoy this day that He’s given us.
What we miss out on when we’re not living in the moment
Planning for the future, setting goals and achieving them are an important part of our life here on earth. However, when that’s all we focus on, we miss out on so much that God has for us, such as:
- Beauty – All that God created. When we’ve got our heads down only focusing on our goals, we miss the gorgeousness that He created. The beautiful trees, the blooming flowers, the birds singing their beautiful songs.
When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars you set in place; what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them? Psalm 8:3-4
- Rest – God expects us to work hard, however, He also wants to give us rest. After all, even He took a day of rest, and if God sees how important rest is, then who are we to think we’re bigger than Him and don’t need it? (Believe me, this is one of my struggles and I’ve had to learn to become more intentional with my rest and self-care.)
He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Psalm 23:2-3
- Peace – The only place that we can find real and complete peace is through Jesus. When we’re chasing after our dreams and anxious about the future, we miss out on the incredible gift of that only He can provide.
Be sure to check out 15 Best Prayer Journals to Strengthen Your Prayer Life.
Be sure to check out The LORD gives his people strength. The LORD blesses them with peace. Psalm 29:11
- Joy – We all want joy in our life, and to feel relief from the constant stress that we go through almost daily. But when we’re too busy planning and looking ahead, chasing after the earthly things, we miss out on this joyful day that God has made just for us.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
- Relationships – God has given us some incredible people in our life so that we can have fellowship and enjoy each other’s company. If we have our heads down, always working, then we miss out on the beautiful relationships that He has given us.
Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25
- Trust – Trust that God will take care of your future. He calls us to be responsible and plan for our future, but then He expects us to come back to the moment and learn to trust that He will take care of us.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Psalm 19:21
Living in the Moment
So, my friend, plan away. Set your goals, put systems in place to conquer them, and then come right back to this moment. Take note of everything going on around you and enjoy this day that God created just for you!
If you need more help with learning to live in the moment and stop worrying about the future and things you can not change, be sure to check out my 30-day devotional, Finding Peace in the Mess.
Thanks for stopping by the blog today. Be sure to leave me a comment below and tell me what you do to help live in the moment and enjoy this day that God has created for you!
Until next time……..
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