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Day Seventy-Two

The Reality of Now (Read Proverbs 27:1-5)

27 Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring.

2 Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth;
    an outsider, and not your own lips.

3 Stone is heavy and sand a burden,
    but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both.

4 Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming,
    but who can stand before jealousy?

5 Better is open rebuke
    than hidden love.

Reflection:

We often find ourselves caught up in thoughts about the future—what we'll do, where we'll go, who we'll become. It's easy to slip into the habit of boasting about tomorrow, making confident predictions and declarations about what's yet to come. But Proverbs 27:1 offers a gentle reminder to ground ourselves in the reality of now. Pharaoh in Egypt kept promising to let the children of Israel go tomorrow, never today. His constant delays eventually cost him his oldest son and all the firstborns in the land of Egypt.

"The life of faith is lived one day at a time, and it has to be lived - not always looked forward to as though the "real" living were around the next corner. It is today for which we are responsible. God still owns tomorrow." ~ Elisabeth Elliot

The truth is tomorrow is uncertain. We have no control over what the next day will bring, and unforeseen circumstances can quickly overturn our plans. This truth encourages humility and dependence on God, not fear. When we emphasize what we hope tomorrow will bring too much, we can miss God's blessings and opportunities for us today. A Spanish proverb says, "The road of by-and-by leads to the house of never." Another proverb states: "The road to hell is paved with good intentions." The English have a proverb that says, "Procrastination is the thief of time." 

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present." ~ Bill Keane

"Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present." ~ Jim Rohn

Living in the reality of now means appreciating the present moment and trusting God with the unknowns of the future. It's about letting go of our need to boast about what's ahead instead of focusing on how we can serve and honor God today. Every day is a gift, and each moment holds a purpose in God's grand design.

"Remember the past, plan for the future, but live for today because yesterday is gone, and tomorrow may never come." ~ Luke the Evangelist

Reflection Questions:

  1. How often do you think more about tomorrow than what God is doing in your life today?
  2. What does it reveal about your heart when you boast about future plans or achievements?
  3. In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God with the unknowns of the future?

Challenge of the Day:

Today, make a conscious effort to live in the present. Each time you think or worry about tomorrow, pause and redirect your thoughts to what God is doing in your life. Spend a few moments in prayer, thanking God for today and asking for the grace to trust Him in the future. Look for one opportunity to love, serve, or encourage someone in the present moment, letting go of any anxious thoughts about what tomorrow might bring.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to live in the reality of now. I often think ahead, plan, and boast about what tomorrow might bring. But I know that only You hold the future. Teach me to appreciate each day, to trust You with what's ahead, and to live faithfully in the present moment. Thank You for the gift of today. Amen.

May God bless your hearing, understanding, and application of today's wisdom.