“What are we going to do next?”
Next. Just the word begins to fill us with an anticipation, a looking forward – to the next day, the next activity, the next celebration, the next paycheck, the next in line at the store, the next step.
The word rushes us through our days, and lives.
Yet Jesus’ own words remind us to pray and live differently:
“‘Give us this day our daily bread. …” (Matthew 6:11, NASB)
No anticipation. We are to simply rest in the truth that today He will meet our need, in this moment before us.
The Israelites learned how to live in the moment as they scooped up their manna for the day each morning. They could only gather enough for themselves and their household, and no more. Scooping up extra would only cause it to go bad as it could not saved for the next day.
Here is what I am remembering and re-learning:
- We need to be fed today. Much the way I need food to sustain me each day, I need to take in sustenance from God’s Word every day. I need a daily word. Yesterday’s word was excellent, but I need a fresh word today. And I need a balanced diet.
- We don’t even know what we need. Much the way God provided an unknown food in the wilderness, He has a vast supply of food yet unknown to me. He knows when and how to introduce me to something new. Think of it this way, when I was a kid, there was no way anyone could get me to eat spinach. Now as an adult, it is one of my favorite vegetables. We mature and develop new taste buds as we allow Him to feed us each day.
- He is to be our source. In Jesus’ own words, “I am the bread of life!” (John 6:48, NASB). He gives us what will nourish our souls for the day so that we don’t merely survive the day but we live the day.
As we come to Him each and every day, sharing with Him the demands and stresses, He will serve us exactly the portion of Himself which we need in order to face the day. He will serve up the “manna” so that we are content and satisfied fully.
Let’s not move on to the next thing so quickly.
Instead, let’s live daily in the moment,
and let Him feed our souls.
I have been noticing the blooms lately. They seemed to begin happening all of a sudden. In her post. “Spring is Here Will Your Faith Bloom” HERE, Donna Bucher reminded me that we are not to grow weary or give up, for we will reap a harvest in due time. This is true in our gardens and our lives.
Come, sit a spell. Bring your coffee, your posts, and your thoughts. If you link up, kindly visit those who have drawn up a seat around you.
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
A wonderful post Joanne!
Blessings, Jennifer
Wonderful words, Joanne! I often find myself rushing through my days to “what’s next” and have been learning to slow down because hurrying to what’s “next” causes me to miss what’s “now”.
Love your practical wisdom, too, especially #2 “We don’t even know what we need.”, Oh how true this is, and what a blessing to know that God DOES know exactly what we need in every moment!
And a BIG Thank You for featuring my post, dear friend!
Wow, Joanne … this resonates with me in so many ways, starting with the photo on MY blog post this week (it says “what’s next?). 🙂 My word for the year is “now,” so there is another big tie in to living in the moment. And I love your second point about how we don’t even know what we need. So true. I’m so thankful that God knows, and that He always provides.
After reading your comment, I had to go read your post immediately. Thank you for sharing it as I needed to read your words this morning!
Your words were the perfect way to begin my daily devotion this morning! Thank you!
“Let’s not move on to the next thing so quickly.
Instead, let’s live daily in the moment,
and let Him feed our souls.” Yes! Lord Jesus, help me to savor your presence and the gift of the moment.
I love the correlation between daily manna and our daily need for God’s Word. Yesterday’s manna may still be nourishing us, but we need today’s.
As a girl with a future orientation to time, I struggle to keep the word NEXT from canceling out the word NOW.
Living in the present takes intentionality, Joanne! And it is harder to do than we think!
Powerful and simple message, Joanne, and oh so needed! Love your example of the Lord giving us our daily bread–just like He provided daily mana for the children of Israel. I often ask the Lord to help me be present in the present. Thanks for such a good reminder to walk one day at a time, and one moment at a time, with HIM.
How I need to remember this one, Joanne! Blessings on your day.
He takes our worries away when we remember that He provides all that we need in every present moment. Love how you paralleled our need for food nourishment with the nourishment of God’s word!
Amen! As the “old folks” used to say, “Stop and smell the roses.” As I’ve become one of them, I’ve gained a new appreciation for this. Let us enjoy the moment we’re in more than worrying about some moment to come that probably isn’t going to happen anyway. Such an important concept my friend. God’s blessings.