{"id":3361,"date":"2016-03-20T09:00:04","date_gmt":"2016-03-20T14:00:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3361"},"modified":"2016-03-14T20:58:37","modified_gmt":"2016-03-15T01:58:37","slug":"choose-to-live-in-the-present","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/barbdahlgren.com\/?p=3361","title":{"rendered":"Choose to Live in the Present"},"content":{"rendered":"

Another Year of Choices<\/em><\/p>\n

By Barbara Dahlgren<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Live<\/a>So many people live in the past and constantly lament what might have been.\u00a0 They spend all their time focusing on things they can do nothing about.<\/p>\n

They obsess over things like\u2026if only I had married the geek I thought was a loser in college who became a millionaire.\u00a0 If only I had taken that job with the start-up company I thought would go nowhere but went sky high.\u00a0 If only I hadn\u2019t gotten pregnant at sixteen.\u00a0 If only I had finished college instead of dropping out.\u00a0 If only I hadn\u2019t gotten drunk and had a tattoo of a naked lady put on my arm.\u00a0 If only, if only, if only\u2026<\/p>\n

Everyone\u2019s life is full of missed opportunities, some unwise decisions, and regret.\u00a0 These things cannot be changed.\u00a0 It is better to accept and learn from them and move on.\u00a0 Yet many seem held captive by things they can do nothing about.<\/p>\n

Others put their lives on hold waiting for the future.\u00a0 Yes, we look toward the future but we live today.\u00a0 God lives in the present.\u00a0 His name is \u201cI am\u201d not \u201cI was\u201d or \u201cI will be\u201d or \u201cI might have been.\u201d\u00a0 This walk with God is a day by day journey and we miss much when we don\u2019t focus on what God has in mind for us today.<\/p>\n

Consider this\u2026God doesn\u2019t supply tomorrow\u2019s needs today.\u00a0 The Israelites found that out when they tried to store up manna for another day. (Exodus 16)\u00a0 There is nothing wrong in planning for the future but God supplies our needs on a daily basis.\u00a0 We pray \u201cgive us today our daily bread.\u201d\u00a0 Matthew 6:30-34 tells us not to worry about tomorrow.\u00a0 God\u2019s got that covered.<\/p>\n

Instead of lamenting the past or worrying about tomorrow, Matthew 6:33 shows us where our focus should be: \u201cBut seek first the kingdom of God\u2026\u201d\u00a0 You see, our job is to seek God, participate in a relationship with Him, be alert and attuned to His presence all around us \u2013 on a daily basis.\u00a0 We need to concentrate on what God is doing with us today.\u00a0 That\u2019s our priority \u2013 and we can\u2019t do it when we are constantly living in the past or waiting for the future.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

Suggestions for practicing this choice\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n