Do you read or write Tweets? Personally I think it is a great exercise to announce something funny, serious or new in 140 words (or less). There is already so much talk, writing and debate. A little shorter doesn't hurt :)
There are few people who seriously master the art of composing a short but powerful message for the public. My greatest example is the Lord Jesus Himself! He was able to silence a crowd with two sentences. He made comments that impacted like a bomb. His words had, and still have, enormous influence and effect on people's lives.
In my previous blog posts I wrote about His words on 'worrying' about someone or something. Let's continue to read in Matthew 6. Verse 34 records one of His most peculiar sayings, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Tomorrow will worry about itself? Haha, that has to be a joke, right? Days do not worry, people worry. Personally I think this is quite a radical statement Jesus makes here. If there is one thing we worry about, it is the future: tomorrow, next week, next month or even next year. I sometimes feel like Jesus is making a little fun of us here, as in: come on folks, are you serious? You do not even know what this day will bring, so why would you think you have any influence on tomorrow or the rest of this week?
Living per day, completely normal in the biggest part of our world, but an abnormality in the rich West. Possessions, knowledge and activities seem to increase our pain and worries... The words of Jesus are not a joke, but a very serious warning and command: daily manna, daily bread... that trouble is more than enough.
Don't be afraid to pray: Lord, I want to live day by day.
PS: His words do not imply that we should not make plans for tomorrow, but merely that worrying (about those plans) is a sin.
... another saying which may just highlight how pointless it is to worry about tomorrow, is that tomorrow never comes! It is ALWAYS -TODAY!! I try to look ahead and anticipate- but LIVE today! And some days it's just easier than others! I live and learn.
ReplyDeleteIt is always today... that is really how God lives I think, always present. Thanks Anita for adding your thoughts.
DeleteI am always trying to live days down the road, and while that may be fine when meal planning and grocery shopping, it's not good for keeping a proper Godly mindset. This is one of my goals, so I appreciate your thoughts. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful week! :)
I admit that I struggle sometimes with living on a day to day basis, we have such a tendency to be miles ahead in our minds... right?!
DeleteIt brings unrest, I want to learn to enjoy my daily manna :)
Whew! There are enough problems each day without grabbing an extra share from tomorrow. Trust for this day...is all we can do. Thanks for this, Marja!
ReplyDeleteWe will be out of balance if we try to cram the weekly problems in a day :) Thanks Lynn.
DeleteOne of the Biblical authors described worrying as "vain imaginations." I try to remind myself of this when I worry. Thanks for the reminder to focus on Jesus and His provisions. :)
ReplyDeleteMary, that's an interesting way of describing it... 'vain imaginations'...
DeleteThanks for following my blog, you are 100th, I am trying to sign up for your blog, where I will also be the 100th isn't that funny, but Blogger seems to have trouble accepting me ;)
I had to tell someone recently that he shouldn't worry about the weather pattern that was coming in three days later, I even quoted the passage that each day has enough worries itself. Well, the next time he started to say something worrisome, he quoted it back to me. I think I got his attention.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing Cecelia how often we have to be reminded of this!
DeleteBeautiful post, Marja! Thank you for the reminder if Jesus' words. We do need to live day to day, not worry about tomorrow but trust God each day.
ReplyDeleteLiving day by day... we have lost the art of doing that, being so occupied with our calendars and agenda's and telephones.... Thanks for stopping by Connie.
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