July 24, 2024

From Next to Now
FELICIA CAID SMITH, COMPEL Pro Member

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“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Lord, please give me a glimpse of what’s next.

I prayed these words repeatedly, becoming more desperate with each repetition. Once again, I felt like a dinghy on the ocean, but, oh, how I wanted a cruise ship kind of life.

When you go on a cruise, you see the itinerary beforehand and know the exact ports at which the ship is expected to dock. On some cruise lines, you can even turn on the TV in your room and watch a map of the ship sailing across the water, following the charted course to each destination, perfectly on schedule.

That’s what I wanted for my life.

To clarify, I didn’t want to steer the boat. God is my Captain — I surrendered my life and will to Him long ago. But as a meticulous planner and a recovering “control freak,” I still felt anxious in uncertain times when the unknown loomed in the distance. I wanted a clear map of my future, so I strained to see through the fog, begging God to show me where I was going and when I would finally get there.

Have you ever wished you had a bird’s-eye view of the course God has charted for you?
Maybe you’ve asked questions like:

God, will my health be restored? 
Will I find another job?
Will I ever feel love again? 
Will the hurt ever heal? 
God, what’s next?

The truth is that when we turn a corner and get a glimpse of where we’re going, there’s always another corner, another unknown. We could spend our entire lives craning our necks, straining our eyes, striving for a glimpse of tomorrow.

But Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34). He instructed His followers instead to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33, ESV).

So instead of only striving for what’s next, let’s seek God in the now. Instead of always peering around the corner, let’s fix our eyes on the Lord.

I’ve prayed “what’s next” prayers for most of my life, but recently, God has changed my prayer to something entirely different.

I want to encourage you today to join me in praying this new prayer when you feel like asking, God, what’s next? Seek the Kingdom and pray: God, bless me with Your presence.

Call on Him to be with you here and now, and trust Him with tomorrow.

Heavenly Father, the unknowns of tomorrow are in Your hands. I am giving my cares to You, and I trust You in all things. Today, I want to seek Your Kingdom. Please bless me with Your presence. Lord, I just want more of You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Luke 12:29-31, “And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you” (ESV).

In what ways have your thoughts about tomorrow robbed you of today’s purpose and blessings?

How can you seek the Kingdom today?

We’d love to hear your thoughts — share them in the comments!

© 2024 by Felicia Caid Smith. All rights reserved.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org