108 billion people have lived throughout history. 93% of them are dead. You have something that they do not. You have time.
You have something that every king and queen, every pharaoh and ruler, every CEO and celebrity of the past would give all their wealth for: today.1
The present. A gift, to be sure. An opportunity to change, to make a difference, to see your true self, to love, to forgive, to explore, to find something or someone, to try again.
To believe God in a way you’ve never believed before and as you do, God opens a door to a new life you would have never experienced.
God makes promises about what is happening today. If you believe them now, they will redirect you from fear to a hopeful future.
“Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again” (Exodus 15:3).
God gives hints about what is in store for your day. Read the news. Check the weather. Pray through your schedule. Life is a battle, not a getaway vacation from reality. The commander-in-chief is God and if you follow him, victory is guaranteed.
“Today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not panic or be terrified by them” (Deuteronomy 20:3).
Today is not a random occurrence or accident. Today the sun rose because God told it to rise yet again. Today your heart is still beating and your lungs are still breathing because of God’s orders, even while you slept. They key to joyful living is appreciating this day as a gift from its maker.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24)!
God has already taken care of tomorrow. The algorithms scurrying around in your brain causing you to worry about tomorrow don’t belong there. So don’t invite them in. Fill your mind with a focus on today, just as Jesus taught:
“Give us today our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
Finally, the day will come when you will join the 93% and your life on this earth will end. Everybody will continue an existence eternally in heaven or hell. Only two places. God exerts every ounce of his being to reserve you an eternal home in heaven. Believe it, and the promise that Jesus made to a man dying next to him will be your comfort and hope as you are dying, too:
“Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).
As one of my friends likes to say, “Make today count.” The good news is this: God already has!
PRAYER: Dear God, many things will happen today, all under your watchful eye and merciful care. Keep me focused on you, less distracted by worry or fear. Bless my faith with new opportunities to make a difference today. Amen.
FURTHER MEDITATION: Walk through your schedule for today, and talk to God about each appointment, activity or event.
1 Today’s e-newsletter (https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/february-13-2020) from James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, shared this data.