Discussion: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow... Where Do You Live?
June 4, 2021
There is one saying in the bible that I thought was the hardest to apply to my life. “So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34 Amplified Bible) In our prayers we ask God to give us our daily bread. Bread comes in all types, and they all nourish us. So when we ask for our daily bread, I may not get the same type of bread you get. I get what is for my daily sustenance. He gives what we ask, and we rarely find ourselves satisfied with answers we receive. Or could it simply be that we don’t recognize this is the answer to our request? We reach back for yesterday’s which no longer exists or tomorrow’s bread which doesn’t exist yet.
Where did today go? Most times, we unconsciously move today back into yesterday or anxiously anticipate tomorrow. This creates emotions we shouldn’t be having. Emotions which shows our thoughts, feelings, responses, desires and dissatisfactions. We are emotion beings. When we combine yesterday and tomorrow into our today, we will feel the impact of it. If yesterday wasn’t what we hoped for, we become anxious about tomorrow. Everything in life carries a portion of emotional attachment. Relationships (spouses, children, parents etc.), bills (even the ones you can pay on time), a job or lack of one. We were specifically told to take no thoughts outside of today. We aren’t compelled to attempt anything we believe we aren’t capable of carrying out.
I remember in my early 20s; the doctor telling me his diagnosis to the pain I was experiencing. I walked into his office, bent over in extreme pain and in tears. After about a twenty or thirty-minutes of conversation the doctor concluded I had ulcers. His analysis was that “You are stressed out”, and that was what was causing me to suffer (and I use the word suffer at a level ten) ulcers. Physicians today believe there is no clear evidence to suggest stress causes ulcers. I think back to that time. All I wanted was to medicate my pain. I felt this way because I saw no means out of my stressful situations. It’s a known fact that our bodies will signal us of danger. When the doctor told me two (2) years ago I was borderline diabetic, I immediately cut sweets and some other foods. When I returned to my doctor months later, my sugar level was normal. While researching this subject, it stated sugar (sweets) wasn’t the direct cause. I immediately start doing what I could. I was a vegetarian for months, now essentially a pescatarian (vegetarian who eats seafood) I have felt a change in my overall being.
I went to the doctor for my annual checkup and observed others in the waiting room. Most of the seniors were in wheelchairs or with a walker. Next, I noticed there was a considerable gap between the seniors and others who appeared to be in their 30s and 40s. I further noticed many of them had a walker. No judgment from me why a person is in the condition they are in, because the walker and wheelchair could have merely been temporary.
Life will blind you to today, when our instructions are to live and not just exist…. today. Recently I’ve taken to understanding this scripture more, to the point I have seen the change in me. While standing in my living room and thinking about the day, the realization came that I paid all bills for that day. I had other bills with a due date later for the same month. But on this day, nothing was due. I stood in today and felt no pressure or anxiety. Not thinking about yesterday or bills for later that month, I remained in today! The feeling that moved through my entire being was so incredible. Now I have been at this place throughout my life regarding paid bills and other accomplishments, but haven’t thought about it regarding this scripture. Basically, I would look ahead to see what was due next, instead of appreciating that moment. I thought, “is this what I have been missing”. The peace I felt caused tears to flow (joyfully). I want to be clear, this doesn’t mean not to plan, budget, set goals, glance back in gratitude or move forward with expectation. But remember, after you have done all of this ‘stand in today’.
I want to leave you with this message. We must be doers of the Word and not hearers only. God has established provisions for us daily, he gives us what is due today. Yesterday is no longer here and tomorrow never comes. Today is all we got. “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” (Matthew 6:34 Message Bible). We are safe in Today!
(13) TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED- Amazing Motivational Speech Video - YouTube
(Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the music and motivational speech in this video)
Mervin Mayo sings, "You know my name" - YouTube
(Disclaimer: We do not own the rights to the music in this video)
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Resources Corner:
Psychological Trauma
GirlVictorious: Life After Trauma is a blog geared at helping women lead a meaningful, full, and victorious life after going through trauma.
Domestic Violence
National Domestic Violence Hotline can help victims, survivors of domestic violence. Call 1-800-799-7233. Chat w/an advocate on our website. National Domestic Violence Hotline: www.thehotline.org/
Aid for Military Veterans
In an attempt to cope with the pain of overwhelming emotions, sometimes veterans turn to unhealthy relationships, at-risk behaviors, or substance abuse.
Welcome Home is Celebrate Recovery's (CR) tool to help veterans stuck in hurts, hang-ups, and habits. (These statements are from CR’s Homepage). You are not alone! https://www.welcomehome.celebraterecovery.com