Called to the Present

Recently I was visiting some friends in town that have two young daughters and in the midst of conversation one of them sighed "but I'm just ready to be older!"  To which we all responded "Enjoy being young!", but her father wisely answered "don't go wasting time wishing your life away". 

It's so easy to waste so much time wishing for the future or regretting the past. The Lord takes care of the past and the future; two things we have no control over. He provides forgiveness for past sin and mistakes; and he provides hope for the future. He gives the assurance the He has it totally under control. Almost all insecurities come from something that happened in the past or something the may or may not happen in the future. These worries completely distract us from what is right in front of our faces:  the present, the current, the right now!  Sometimes I get so distracted by "what is God calling me to do" in a future tense.  My mind has always operated in the "what's next?" mode.  The reality is that He calls us to the present. He calls us to be here now and to be obedient in every present word, action, deed and thought. 

And He is here to help us live this out. 

"Father, allow me to learn from the past, to hope for the future and to be totally distracted by the present and consumed with obedient actions in this present moment."