Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not promised. Today - this present moment - is all we truly have. Yet we often waste today by dwelling on past regrets or future fears, missing the gift of the present.
James warned, "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:13-14). This isn't meant to depress us but to wake us up.
Each day is a gift from God. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). Not yesterday, which is past. Not tomorrow, which may never come. This day - today.
Living in the present means being fully engaged in what's before you. When you're with people, be fully present. When you're working, give your best. When you're resting, actually rest instead of mentally rehearsing tomorrow's tasks.
It also means seizing opportunities. "Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16). Opportunities to love, serve, witness, and grow come and go. Today's chance may not be available tomorrow.
What would you do differently if you knew this was your last day? Who would you call? What would you say? What would matter most? Now ask yourself: why aren't you doing those things today?
Don't postpone what matters. The present is called "the present" because it's a gift. Unwrap it fully. Live it intentionally. Make it count.
