What Day Are You Living In?

We’ve been talking about living in God’s Presence today by focusing our minds and thoughts.
I know I’ve recommended this before, but it’s worth repeating: 
The devotional by Sarah Young Jesus Calling is an excellent help in cultivating that living in God’s presence.

On September 17 she writes, “You will not find MY Peace by engaging in excessive planning; attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you…. I(God) did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs, your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace.”

On Oct 17 (I don’t read the right days ever) she writes, “Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me (God). So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me.

Satan wishes for us to dwell in the past or in the future.
IN THE PAST
When we think in the past, by dwelling on our inadequacies, sin, struggles, and failures, we cheapen God’s power. It’s unbelief. We doubt Christ’s righteousness.
He became our righteousness when we accept His lordship.
There is nothing better.
But we beat ourselves up with our failures instead of praising God for the righteousness He gave us.

IN THE FUTURE
Or Satan lets us plan the future with all its uncertainties, what if’s and how can I do this.
Remember we can’t do it.
That’s our pride trying to bolster us into thinking we could even have enough strength.
We are weak.
That makes us forget God is in control of the future. 
He has it all planned for us.
It's just for us to live it—talking with Him.

We just need to rest in the NOW.
There’s no hurry in NOW.
There’s no failure in NOW.
There’s no problems in NOW, when God is holding our hands.
And He provides the strength for this moment.

I’ve struggled with this lately. A LOT.
After a year of seeing specialists for my pain, my MRI showed several issues.
A pain specialists recommended burning the nerves in my back for temporary relief of the constant pain—
So several procedures later, they burned both sides of my lower back’s nerves. 
They cautioned I would ache for 4-6 weeks afterward as the nerve continued to die (a slow death), but then it should resolve, if it worked.
This would not address my feet and legs tingling, but at least the constant pain would be gone.

While this four week period of waiting for my nerves to finish dying (not quite the picture I want to keep),
I am scheduled for a similar surgery that I had 18 years ago.
This takes place tomorrow.

Satan is great at throwing darts as I remember my almost death experience (my heartrate went to 15 beats/min), and my “as close to hell-like experience that I want to ever have” that I had 18 years ago while re-cooping from the similar surgery.
I will spare you all the details, but Joey was deployed, I had 7 boys under 12 years, with a newborn that I could either nurse or give to our neighbor for them to bring him for visits to me and I was required to stay in bed. (Guess I didn't spare you much details)
(This surgery tomorrow involves more repair, but Joey is home and no newborns to nurse.)

But remember Satan likes to get us thinking of the past.
My mind still remembers.
But I must redirect my thoughts to NOW. 
God is still with me.
He is still the Healer.
He did bring me through that one.
He can bring me through this one.
He is still in charge.
And God is still GOOD TO ME.

Not only does Satan win the victory when I dwell on the past, but he wins when I dwell on the future—anticipating the recovering.
I remember (the past) how hard it was to recoup, so I dread the future recovery.
I can’t drive for at least 2 weeks.
I can’t lift anything—not even a gallon of milk for six weeks.
But I have to walk to avoid clots. (Least that's better than staying in the hospital bed for 6 weeks!)
And please don't cough or sneeze, and allow my bathroom time to be smooth.
Oh yeah, I have a son’s wedding in those weeks of recovery that I'll be flying to California.

I can worry about the future and give Satan the victory,
OR I can direct my thoughts to Who God is NOW.
God is still with me.
He is still the Healer.
He gives strength for THIS DAY. (Or this moment).
He is still good-to-me.
He doesn’t give me anything that isn’t HIS BEST for me.

When I rest in the PRESENT with God, He is glorified.
I have His peace.
And I come to know Him better.

But it's a battle.
A battle for my mind.
Who will win this moment?
God calls me to focus on Him.
I initially didn't want to tell anyone. Who wants to acknowledge a need?
But I do need prayer.
My strength is not enough, but I know Whose is. 

Where are you today?
Anxious about the future?
Wishing to change the past?
OR striving to worship God in this moment?

God gives us this moment to worship and praise Him.
As I direct my thoughts to Him for EVERY LITTLE THING, I come to realize those BIG THINGS are planned by Him to help me know and praise Him better.
And those BIG THINGS pale in significance when He is beside me.
He will be with me and I will know what day I'm living in—it will be right now.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
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More faith articles are found here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 

under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
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