Plan for Tomorrow but Live for Today

In Matthew 6:34 I read, “Don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (NLT)

The good thing about the future is that it doesn’t hit me all at once. If I had my entire life thrown at me at one time, it would no doubt be overwhelming. So God gives it to me in bite-size, 24-hour segments.

Since God gives me only one day at a time, that’s how he expects me to approach my life. Live one day at a time, and make it count.

Jesus taught: “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today” (Matthew 6:34 NLT).

Jesus is saying to stop borrowing trouble. If there’s something happening next week, why am I messing up today by worrying about it?

Worry can’t change the past. It can’t control the future. Worry only makes me miserable today.

God gives me all the grace I need but just enough for today, every day. He doesn’t stockpile all that power in your life and give it to you for the next week or month. He says to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” He wants me to take life one day at a time.

When I don’t know what the future holds, I can still take life one day at a time. That’s all I’m meant to do!

When everything is uncertain and I don’t know how to make wise decisions for the future, then just take care of today. God doesn’t want me to worry about tomorrow, but he also doesn’t want me to presume about it, either. It’s important to plan, pray, and trust God for the future. But God still expects me to put my energy into making today count.

A great way to do this, especially during the pandemic, is to reduce my media intake. Focus instead on the things God loves and cares about, like your spiritual growth and caring for people who need help right now. That’s how I’ll make the day count.

“Don’t brashly announce what you’re going to do tomorrow; you don’t know the first thing about tomorrow” (Proverbs 27:1 The Message). When everything else in life seems unclear, this is about as clear as you can get.

Plan for tomorrow but live for today. God will give me everything I need to be obedient in both.

In summary, don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. If I had my entire life thrown at me at one time, it would be overwhelming. So God gives it to me in 24-hour segments. That’s how he expects me to approach my life. Live one day at a time, and make it count. Jesus is saying to stop borrowing trouble. If there’s something happening next week, why am I messing up today by worrying about it? Worry on my part can’t change the past and It can’t control the future. Worry only makes me miserable today. God gives me all the grace I need but just enough for today. He says to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Take life one day at a time. When I don’t know what the future holds, life one day at a time. That’s all I’m meant to do! It’s important to plan, pray, and trust God for the future. But God still expects me to put my energy into making today count. Focus instead on the things God loves and cares about, like my spiritual growth and caring for people who need help. That’s how I’ll make the day count. Plan for tomorrow but live for today. God will give me everything I need to be obedient in both.

One thing that I can’t control, that has been causing some stress in my life, is knowing that my current job will be ending soon and I don’t have anything lined up when it does. This is taking a certain amount of energy. As I have learned in this study/devotional, I should pray and plan for the future but live for today. Father with the help of your Holy Spirit I will do this and also trust in you for my future. I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership and my interactions with others. I pray this in your son Jesus’ name, amen.