Staying in the moment can be the hardest discipline to follow. Our minds can dwell in the past, thinking about what was. It could be in mourning, thinking the best had passed, or in regret of what could’ve been done.

Our minds will swing to the other end of the spectrum, where we are fearful about the future. Every fear is located in an alternate future because it’s one we’ve created in our heads. It hasn’t happened yet, but we fix our gaze upon the what ifs instead of staying in the right nows.

Jesus spoke about the beauty of now. He said do not worry about what you wear or what you will eat. Instead, He said to seek the kingdom of God. Could he have meant the kingdom of God is found in the gift of the present?

Father God, you are full of grace avd forgiving to those who come to you. I pray you would forgive us for not receiving your gift of today. Forgive us for dwelling in the past and fixing our eyes on our creation instead of you. Forgive us for taking the gift of today for granted. Let us fix our gaze upon you and receive the present you have for us in the now. In Jesus name, amen.

Henri Nouwen wrote in the Here and Now, “if we could just be, for a few minutes each day, fully where we are, we would indeed discover we are not alone and that the One who is with us wants only one thing: to give us love.”

“This is why I tell you to never be worried about your life, for all that you need will be provided, such as food, water, clothing—everything your body needs. Isn’t there more to your life than a meal? Isn’t your body more than clothing? “Look at all the birds—do you think they worry about their existence? They don’t plant or reap or store up food, yet your heavenly Father provides them each with food. Aren’t you much more valuable to your Father than they?  So, which one of you by worrying could add anything to your life? “ And why would you worry about your clothing? Look at all the beautiful flowers of the field. They don’t work or toil, and yet not even Solomon in all his splendor was robed in beauty more than one of these! So if God has clothed the meadow with hay, which is here for such a short time and then dried up and burned, won’t he provide for you the clothes you need—even though you live with such little faith? “So then, forsake your worries! Why would you say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’  For that is what the unbelievers chase after. Doesn’t your heavenly Father already know the things your bodies require? “So above all, constantly chase after the realm of God’s kingdom and the righteousness that proceeds from him. Then all these less important things will be given to you abundantly. Refuse to worry about tomorrow, but deal with each challenge that comes your way, one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself.”
Matthew 6:25‭-‬34 TPT