The Gift
If you’ve seen the fun, action-packed movie, “Kung-Fu Panda” this summer, you may remember my favorite line of the movie, “Yesterday was history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift. That’s why they call it the Present.” Oh, how I want to live THAT one out! Not fretting about past mistakes or failures. Not putting things off for another day. Not worrying about tomorrow. Living for today.
God wants us to live in here and now. I want to live in the here and now, appreciating my time today. ….Slowing down long enough to have fun with my husband and kids. Taking the time to enjoy my parents NOW while I can. Breathing in the blessings all around me now– flowers in bloom, butterflies gracing my landscaping, sunrises and sunsets, my dog’s cold, wet nose nudging me as he tries to get me to pet him, stolen kisses from my sweet baby girl, and ice cream cones on a hot summer’s day.
I don’t want to be burdened with past failures and mistakes. God doesn’t hold grudges! God doesn’t keep a record of my wrongs! (1Corinthians 13:5; Romans 8:1). I don’t want to live in the past of “I should have done this…” or “I wish I did that…” Paul said, “Forgetting what is BEHIND and straining toward what is ahead, I press on…” (Philippians 3:13,14).
And, I don’t want to worry about the future. I don’t want to be plagued with the “what ifs.” In fact, Jesus tells us “not to worry about tomorrow because tomorrow has enough worry of its own.”
Today is most definitely a GIFT from God.
Emily Dickinson says, “Forever is composed of nows.”
Take the time today to enjoy your now!
Father God, I thank You for the gift of today. May I use each day You give me to glorify Your precious Name. Help me not to pine over lost days or worry about the days to come. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.
I love this, bless you sweetie.
How timely…I was just spending some time this morning musing over yesterday…should of done this instead…wish I did that and not the other…which was the right choice…then I read your blog…what a blessing! How wonderful to be reminded that God doesn’t hold grudges…that today is a gift…wonderful message!
In His Love,
Debrah
Tracy, what a blessing this post was today. I got here via your Thirsty For Him blog. I was initially coming to invite you over to participate on your blog in To the Tune of Tea Tuesdays like you did before. It’s something I welcome everyone to come over and do every Tuesday. Eventually, I hope to have a button for it.
Anyway, I”m glad I stopped here because I have about killed myself in the past with worries about why I didn’t do this or that, or I could have raised my children different and they would have been better, etc. It is a ploy of the enemy to constantly plague you with “what-ifs” and “you shouldn’t haves.” He wants to keep you in a dark past instead of freeing you to focus on a bright today and future in Jesus. Not that everything in our past is bad, but he has the tendency to make us focus on the bad.
God makes good on all of His promises and He promises to take care of us. He walks with us daily and when we surrender to Him constantly, He uses our bad for good. Why worry? God is in control and He loves us and wants what’s best for His children. We need to shun the ploys of the enemy and live for what God has for us today, looking forward, if it’s His will, for the new mercies in the morning. I thank God that HE meets me everyday with the promise that He will never leave nor forsake me and that my mistakes don’t mean my doom, but a chance for Him to correct me and make me whole again.
Thank you for this post. I really enjoyed it. I will visit you as often as I can.
This is good! Live each day like it’s your last, in reality we don’t know when we’re gonna go. I like what Anne of Green Gables said “each day is brand new and a way to start afresh!”
What a beautiful devotional Tracy. It is my prayer to live that way too!
Great post. Thank you so much for the reminder to live each day to it’s fullest…
Tracy, thank you for sharing this thought-provoking truth with us. I am challenged once more to look forward and backward. It has taken me a long time to get in the habit of thinking positively. I praise God for not giving up on me. Lately, thought I’ve been glancing back. Your post speaks to me today to go forward, look forward. Thank you.
Hi Tracy,
You know…. I was suprised by this movie. I didn’t think I would like it much but I did and it was filled with all kinds of lessons.
Loved this post and it gives me hope for just today to live out my faith and let my mistakes of the past few days, stay in the past. Hugs, Lynn
Beautiful post.
Bless you Tracy…I live for today every day. Are you sure this Kung Fu teaches this…oh you just loved the Panda…I love what you chose for your favorite line! I left a different message back home at Thirsty for Him…but indeed I treasure your inspirational words especially after what the spring floods has brought your way…you are a preciousGift from God to light our way with HOPE! Blessings!