The wise man Agur gave us a wise principle when he asked God to give him “just enough for today” (Proverbs 30:8-9). Jesus affirmed the wisdom of the principle when He taught His disciples to pray. He said for them to ask for God to provide them with their “daily bread”. Whenever you find an Old Testament teaching affirmed in the New Testament, it bears extra attention as we know God is teaching us an important lesson meant to last throughout the ages.
When we live with our focus on today alone, we are showing obedience to Christ and a faith that trusts Him to take care of everything that’s coming. We free ourselves from the anxiety and worry of an uncertain future in this world.
In a culture replete with financial, career, life, and retirement planners, living with a focus on today alone is seen as shortsighted. Society deems a lack of long-term planning as reckless and irresponsible. Disciples of Jesus are a peculiar lot. We live for different goals than those of this world. Our future is secure and known. And yet we still get caught up in following the trends of the culture as we plan and invest for a future here on earth that may never come. As Jesus said in the parable of the barns (Luke 12:15-21), it is foolish to make all these plans for the future when we may not live to see tomorrow.
When we talk about planning for the future, our thoughts often lean toward finances. But let’s put that aside for a moment. Let’s think in broader terms. What if we would approach every area of our lives simply focused on today? How might it revolutionize our prayers if we asked for provision, healing, and the ability to live for Christ “just for today”?
I want to devote my entire life to Christ and nothing else, but that is a daunting task. Taken one day at a time, though, seems doable. It’s hard to imagine living an upright and humble life for three solid months, but doing it only for today seems manageable. When you face a chronic health condition, feeling well for a long period may appear more like a pipedream. It takes a lot of faith. But having enough faith that God can restore your health for the day you are in is simpler and less taxing. The pressure is off when we simplify things and only focus on today.
When we choose to narrow our focus onto only the day we are in, we will find a peace and rest that is not available in a life that is worried about the future. Jesus taught how God cares for the tiniest birds by giving them what they need each day (Matthew 6:26). The prophet Jeremiah revealed to us that God is so faithful that He provides new mercies every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23). We don’t need mercy for the next ten years today. We only need enough for this day.
A focus on today allows us to eliminate the constant chatter of the world. Doomsayers hold no sway because our focus is on today. We don’t worry about what tomorrow will bring because tomorrow may never come. Followers of Jesus should focus on today and leave the rest in the hands of our loving Father. So, when you pray, ask for God’s guidance just for today. Request that He gives you the strength and discipline to live for Him only for the next twenty-four hours. If you are hurting, ask Him to heal you for today and give Him praise for it. Life is simpler, easier, and more rewarding when we focus on today. We already know our future is with Christ. Let’s spend our time focusing on what we can do for Jesus in this day and let tomorrow worry about itself.