journey onWord with us

For more than fifty years, I have read the account of Jesus, the demon-possessed man and a large herd of pigs. What a fascinating story! What a great picture of God’s power over Satan! Can you imagine the scene as the men were released from demon possession and the evil spirits entered the pigs?! None of us can even fathom a large herd of pigs rushing down a steep bank into a lake and drowning … but it happened. I am sure that in my years of reading this account, I have gained some knowledge and understanding of the healing power and compassion of Jesus. My thoughts centered on the demon-possessed man, the pigs and the demons, but not much more. Sometimes, if you are anything like me, reading Scripture becomes more about the process and less about gleaning great principles for life. It is easy to focus on the facts of Scripture, and miss great lessons. Contained within the story of two men possessed by demons and a pig stampede was an incredible life lesson for today, and I missed it for years. Maybe you have too!

To set the context, Jesus gets out of a boat and is confronted by the two demon-possessed men (Matthew’s gospel mentions two). The account of this story in the book of Luke (where we have been reading this week) focused on one of the two men.  These men lived in tombs, were naked, violent, and controlled by a legion of demons. The gospel of Mark (which also focuses on just one of the men) conveys that he was so strong that he tore off the chains that held him. Picture the scene as he would cry out and cut himself with stones. We have all encountered people who gave us a sense of uneasiness and even fear. But I don’t think any of us have come upon a scene quite like this one.

The legion of demons that controlled the men asked Jesus to send them into the pigs. Jesus obliged, and the pig stampede began.  The large herd plunged down a hillside into the lake and were drowned. Once the evil spirits left them, we find the one healed demonic sitting dressed and in his right mind. He was a new creation! But there is more to the story. After the event, people pleaded with Jesus to leave. As Jesus was getting in the boat, the converted (I believe), healed demon-possessed man asked to go along. Jesus wouldn’t allow it, but His instructions were words that every believer should follow … and I missed them all these years.

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn’t let him. Jesus said, “Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you.” The man went back and began to preach in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.
Mark 5:18-20 (MSG)

Think about the life change for this once scary creature. But the healing hand of God changed everything. When you and I came to faith in Christ, everything changed for us. On this side of eternity, the most important decision in our lives was when we went from darkness to light, and became new creations in Christ Jesus. However, Christians often shy away from sharing their story and spiritual heritage with those they love. Jesus’ words to the healed demonic are very relevant today. We, like him, should tell our story. Why did Jesus tell him to share what happened? Because Jesus wanted others to hear of His mercy!  And who, apart from Jesus himself, would tell the story better than the one who had been loosed from demonic bondage and forever freed and healed?

So here is the challenge:  If you are in Christ, who needs to hear what He has done for you? Will you pray for them, and if Christ opens a door of opportunity, will you share your story? It’s easy to make excuses, but if Christ is your Savior don’t be afraid to tell your story. After all, it is authored by God and is your spiritual birthright. Your journey may not be as exciting as a pig stampede, but it’s yours, and it can be used by God in the lives of others.

I missed the life lesson for years … don’t miss your chance to tell your story!

I have suffered for 3 months with intense pain in my right heel.  My family and friends had diagnosed me and offered all manner of suggestions for my healing.  I tried everything, in every which way, but to no avail. Finally, in desperation I decided to seek the help of a professional … I actually went to a doctor.  As I suspected, he said I have Plantar Fasciitis – an inflammation in the bottom of my foot.  I asked him the cause, fearing this would be the end to all my cute heels, but the doctor simply replied, “Bad luck!”

Oh goodie, lucky me!  “But,” he said, “all is not lost.  This is a very ‘heel-able’ (get it??) condition. If you do exactly what I tell you to do in the exact order, the pain will go away.” I left with a 3-point strategy, in a specific and strict order, for daily treatment.  Guess what?  In just under a week, the pain level has gone from an 8 to a 1.

I could not help but be struck by the fact that if we do things in the right way, as explained and instructed by one who knows what they are talking about, good things happen. Let’s look further at this principle as it relates to the One who is All-Knowing.

In the book of Luke, chapter four, Christ is in an epic battle. He had been led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness. For forty days He was tempted by the biggest heel of all, the Devil. Isn’t it interesting that the Son of God did what we all need to do? He resisted Satan with Scripture. Three times in this passage, we find specific temptations, and three times they are defended with the most powerful weapon ever provided.  Look at the answers Jesus gave, originally penned in the book of Deuteronomy.

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’”
Luke 4:4

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”
Luke 4:8

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Luke 4:12

My point is simply that if we are ever going to have success in the daily battles of life, Scripture must be the priority.  My husband and I have never met anyone exceptionally strong in faith who was not a disciplined reader of Scripture. My challenge as we all begin a new week is this: Are you getting through the daily challenges of life the way I was treating my heel pain? I had no strategy, just homemade remedies and a lot of hope.  The moment the one who knew the right answers gave me the steps to take, my pain began to subside.

The One who knows has given us The Word – the right steps in the right way.

Can God be trusted to guide our lives? — Yes! Can we trust the Bible? — Absolutely! Do we believe that it has the answers for life’s questions? — Yes! Is accepting Christ as Savior the only way to heaven? — Absolutely! Does God answer prayer? — Yes! Can the Father give us joy on the journey? — Absolutely! These truths are almost like a creed that could easily be recited. But I am concerned that horizontal focus (earthbound) tends to overshadow our vertical relationship (trusting the Father).

A personal illustration may help. Although I know He gives me joy for the journey, yesterday was one of those days of earthbound, frustrating human logic. I wanted to pout, and I had good reason to do it! (Did I really??)  After praying for different issues, why was I not trusting? Why was I getting discouraged when God wasn’t moving quick enough? Why was I grumpy when “my” plans didn’t fit as I wanted? Could it be because I wanted to lead my life and fit God’s design into my plans? You may have experienced similar days recently.

Calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am. Don’t run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I’ll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to saving yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? What could you ever trade your soul for?
Mark 8:34-37 — The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language

All of us will have “rough days,” but does your general pattern of life model the words of Christ? Most Christ-followers would say, “I want Christ to lead me,” yet we fight for the driver’s seat. When Christ leads, love, sacrifice, obedience and sometimes suffering will be the required. On the days, and sometimes seasons, when we are in the driver’s seat, love turns inward, sacrifice seems too radical, obedience is optional, and suffering is to be avoided at all costs. To find the joy available from God and the you He means for you to be, lose your life … and He will save it.

Are you finding a struggle at the steering wheel? — Yes! Does God understand your struggle? — Absolutely! Can you have more joy by letting Christ lead? — Yes! Do you believe that you can trust Him? — Absolutely!  Are you willing to radically commit to letting Him lead? — _________!

At Journey onWord With Us, we are not just about writing devotional posts, or words of challenge or encouragement.  We are here when you are struggling to fill in that blank. Or we are ready to come alongside you when you make a decision to fill in that blank.  Please don’t ever hesitate to reach out.  We are always ready to share the reason for our hope in Christ.

i love the gospels.  i love reading about Jesus, and what He said and did when He was here walking among us.  Although, and i believe i’ve said it before, i find reading the gospel of Mark very much like attempting to drink out of a firehose!  Eight verses on the man who was chosen by God to announce Jesus to His people, John the Baptist.  Three verses on Jesus being baptized by John.  One verse on Jesus immediately going to the desert for forty days to be tempted by Satan himself.  And then, four verses to tell the story of Jesus choosing His first four disciples.  It’s like Mark is saying, “Yeah, yeah, this really amazing and meaningful stuff happened as Jesus began the work of his Father, but listen, we’ve got three years and more incredible stories than you could ever imagine to cover!  We’re burning daylight here!”

One thing i’ve been reminded of this week, is that we have no excuse for being too busy.  The time we may fail to spend with God when our schedules become overtaxed is time we are choosing to not spend with Him.  Jesus was fully God, but our humanity is not an excuse for not finding time for Him.  Jesus was also fully human, and set an intentional rhythm to His life that included time with the Father.  That time was His nourishment.  He valued it equally with the purpose for why He chose to become one of us.  There are valuable lessons in the daily choices Jesus made to both be busy with the Father’s work and steal away to spend time with Him.

In “trying to keep up” this past week, i was moved and challenged by one single story – the story of the woman who touched Jesus’ robe, believing that single act would heal her.  This woman could be judged by some as desperate, but i believe she was anything but.

By Mark’s account, Jesus was in full-on healing mode, and He was pressed all around, surrounded by crowds.  Jesus heals a man who was demon-possessed, and then gets into a boat to go to the opposite side of a lake where another crowd was gathered to greet him.  As he hits the shore, leaves the boat and begins walking, a leader of the local synagogue named Jairus approaches Jesus and falls at His feet.  His daughter is dying and he pleads with Jesus to go with him to his home so that Jesus can touch and heal her.  Jairus believes that Jesus can heal her, if they can only get to her in time.  Jesus leaves with Jairus, and the crowd follows them.  i was not there that day, but i can see the scene with my mind’s eye.  The crowd was moving en masse and Jesus and Jairus were moving with it, maybe just a few paces faster.  As they pushed through the crowd, there must have been countless hands, arms, and shoulders brushing against the Master’s own.  And then something happened that caused Jesus to stop dead in His tracks.  As He was walking, a woman fighting a twelve-year battle with bleeding pushed her way through the crowd to get to Jesus.  When she got near enough, she reached out and touched His robe.  At the moment her skin made contact with His garment, Jesus’ power to heal flowed from Him into her.  And, after asking her to claim her faith and identity, Jesus boldly declared, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” Mark 5:34 (NLT).  Jesus was not asking in order to know; He was inviting her to new life.

This woman may have been at the end of her own strength; She may even have felt at the end of her rope.  But this woman who had suffered at the hands of doctors and spent the full measure of her earthly treasure only to get worse, heard Jesus was coming.  The Bible does not speak of her state of mind or intent.  Some might assume this was her “last resort” – that she had tried everything else and figured, “Why not?!”  But in the woman’s actions and answer, i find a faith which was spotless and strong.  She knew who Jesus was, and she knew that He could heal her.

i have experienced faith like this — moments and circumstances where i believed without an ounce or shade of doubt that Jesus could heal.  i prayed in that confidence.  i knew Jesus could heal.  And He did.  A few times on this side of eternity, and a few on the other.  See, i don’t believe the faith this woman had — the faith which Jesus said made her well — was a faith in the healing.  i believe it was a faith in the Healer.  Just as i have written before that our trust should not be in the outcome, but rather the God of the outcome, our faith should be in the Healer, not the healing.

The Healer never fails, even when the healing does not come (in our desire, timing or definition).  This woman believed, touched, and was healed.  i pray that is also your experience in this life.  And if not (the faith of the three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah), may your faith remain steadfast and strong in the Great Healer.

Am i a Christian, or am i a follower of Jesus?  How i long to simply answer, “Yes!”  How i long to quickly and confidently correct the suggestion it should ever be a question of “or.”  “i am a Christian and a follower of Jesus!” This is how it should always be.  But as i consider the essence and implications of both, i find my “and” to be less often than always.

Belief and belonging – these are at the core of what it means to be a Christian.  It is certainly not that i don’t ever doubt, or sometimes feel forgotten or alone.  But i am confident in who Jesus is, what He did for me in dying and rising, and that i am once and forever His at the first moment of genuine belief and confession.  “i am a Christian!”

But then we come to follower, something altogether more and different that belief and belonging.  Following is faith with feet.

You might be wondering where this whole line of questioning and pondering came from.  i have come to love “obscure” mentions of characters or stories in the Bible.  i’ll be careful to qualify my use of that word as, “out of the way, simple, humble and not always explained or expounded upon.”  i found such a character and story in our reading this week, in Matthew’s telling of Christ’s crucifixion.  It follows the deeply sad sentence, “Then they led him away to be crucified.”

Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.
Matthew 27:32 (NLT)

This is all Matthew’s gospel tells of the cross road.  The “obscure” mention of a random man from North Africa who is chosen by Roman soldiers to carry Jesus’ cross for part of the journey from the palace to Golgotha.  There is speculation as to why the soldiers chose to do this, and speculation as to the significance of this man from Cyrene.  But the Bible doesn’t explain or expound – maybe we should just leave it at that, too.

And this is where we return to the truth of following …

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24 (NLT)

The Roman soldiers asked Simon to take up Jesus’, Jesus asks me to take up mine.  This is the essence of following, to take up our cross and walk with Jesus.  And this is why i find my “and” to be less often than always.  Believe and belong – that is one thing; to take up my cross – that is something altogether more and different.

Savior, with your help may i take up my cross now.  i have laid it down too often.  And as we walk, and you talk with me and encourage me in my carrying, may i see that it is has been You bearing the weight of it all along.  May i lay it down again, only to lay it at Your feet.

“i am a Christian, and i am a follower of Jesus!”

In taking a fresh look at the Red Sea experience over the last week, I was reminded that God led the children of Israel into an impossible situation. It was His design to take them to a very hard place and then part the waters. Scripture details other hard places, and one in particular has always fascinated me. Christ was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. Talk about a hard place. I am so thankful that God has given us His Word to help us navigate our own Red Sea and wilderness seasons.

Everyone experiences hard places. They vary in degree, but no one is exempt. When our journey takes the unexpected turn to a place of difficulty, our minds respond with immediate questions. I am confident in God’s sovereignty, thankful for His grace, and sure of His love for me, but my logical self often cries out, “Why?!”  I want life to make sense. After all, I try to do things right, help others and honor Him. You may have some of the same struggles in trying to figure out God’s design for the hard places. My logical self thinks it knows best, when in reality God knows what is best. Growth for me (and you) comes when I begin to let my thinking become purposefully yielded to His knowing.

Scripture lists the temptation of Christ three times early in the New Testament. The passages relating to the temptation are instructive, and from a human perspective maybe a bit puzzling.  Think about it, God the Spirit led God the Son into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. On the surface, it made no sense. Just like when you and I encounter a hard place! But God always has a purpose.

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.
Matthew 4:1 (NLT)

The Spirit then compelled Jesus to go into the wilderness, where he was tempted by Satan for forty days. He was out among the wild animals, and angels took care of him.
Mark 1:12-13 (NLT)

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness.
Luke 4:1 (NLT)

From my viewpoint, this would have been difficult beyond description. Christ stayed in the desert for forty days, fasted, was among the wild animals, and to top it off, was tempted by Satan. At least one of the great benefits from this hard place was the model every true Christ-follower has been given to thwart the attacks of Satan. Christ used God’s Word against Satan … and so can we. God’s design for Christ always had a purpose, and so it is with us.

You may have already hit a hard place this year. Did your logical self begin with the questions? Mine has! To be honest, our humanity pretty much guarantees the “Why?!” questions. God understands this, but I think the bigger question is … Does God (who knows what is best) have the right to direct our journeys to the wilderness, or for that matter to the Red Sea? Of course He does! It is my opinion that His good purpose for all Christ-followers will involve hard places. That truth does not make the hard places any easier to navigate or endure, but when our thinking is purposefully yielded to His knowing, we will have greater perspective and more peace.

Sometimes the hard places are born out of our own failures. At other times, the Father leads us into a hard place to stretch and grow our faith. Regardless of why we are in the desert, our Father will give grace and guidance. When we hurt, He cares. His purpose is always good–even when our hard place doesn’t make sense in the midst of it. Accept that you will sometimes be overwhelmed with emotions that ask, “Why?!” In those times, call out to Him and purposefully yield your thinking to His knowing.

And remember what happened at the Red Sea and in the wilderness!

Admit it; there are some people you have a difficult time being around. There are other individuals who cause a sense of irritation inside you at the mention of their name. And even more emotionally draining are the people who have knowingly hurt you, seemingly without an ounce of remorse.  What is really frustrating is to see these “irritators” at family functions, daily at work, and even in social settings. You may even have had thoughts like ones that have passed through my mind … “I hope you get what you deserve.” Christ-followers all know the right response to these emotionally draining people … forgive them! For most, living with a genuine heart of forgiveness is a battle. But it is a battle worth fighting!!

Peter was often quick to respond.  His words were sometimes off-track, but most of us can relate with his impetuous tongue. In Matthew 18:21-22, we find a dialogue between Peter and Jesus that was striking.

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times. (ESV)

Peter may have thought he was showing a measure of faith by saying seven times. After all, the rabbis taught that a Jew should forgive an offense three times.  We can all relate with the frustration of continually forgiving the “irritator” who repeatedly offends us.

Obviously, Peter was wrong in his suggestion of forgiving seven times. Some versions of the Bible use “seventy times seven” while others, including the version listed above, use seventy-seven times. There could be scholarly debates on the correct “number,” but we should never get fixated on the number over the posture and heart of Jesus’ correction.  He is boldly declaring that we are to be forgivers. In Dr. Constable’s Notes on Matthew he states, “That disciples who are humble should not limit the number of times they forgive one another, or limit the frequency with which they forgive each other.”

We can easily relate with Peter and the limit he suggests relative to forgiveness. We all have “irritators” who we sometimes wish would get what they deserve. But for anyone desiring to live like Christ and make a difference in the world, forgiveness shouldn’t carry limits. Forgive and trust God with the results.  As I was thinking about writing on Peter and forgiveness, a story came to mind which provided a pause to consider how true believers in Christ really can forgive … when others would not!

My wife and I met a man a few years ago in business. We were drawn to him immediately, even before he told us the story of how his daughter had stepped up to take a co-worker home and lost her life. She was on an unfamiliar road and a drunk driver crossed the center line and her life was taken. I can’t imagine the pain our friend and his wife endured. But when he felt prepared, this godly man took a trip from Ohio to Indiana to tell the person who was responsible for his daughter’s death, that he had forgiven him.  His act of forgiveness reminds me that forgiveness can be given, even when the pain is beyond what we can imagine. Our friend had a heart like Christ. A forgiver’s heart!

We may have need to forgive someone once, or maybe seven times or seventy-seven times. The point is not the number, but the willingness and capacity to forgive. If you and I want a life that models Christ, complete and repeated forgiveness will be a part of it. I am convinced that someone reading this article today is battling forgiveness.  Consider what Christ would do, what our friend did, and, in Christ, what you can do!

When is the next holiday?! It may just be me, but the first week of the New Year moved at a fast clip. Between eating properly, working out, attending meetings, phone calls, going to a funeral and a myriad of other events, I can already feel myself needing a holiday to recuperate. You may be feeling the same way. As I have been reading the book of Matthew this week, I’ve wondered about the pace that Christ must have kept. From my perception, the demands on Christ far exceeded what any of us will encounter this year. Yet His pace reflected what was important, and His days were directed toward others.

A quick read through Matthew (a book that bridges us from the Old Testament to the New) shows the demands on Christ. He healed the sick, fed the five thousand, taught, calmed a storm, debated the Sabbath, told parables, fed the four thousand, walked on the water … the list goes on … and on.  And I think I am busy and need to recuperate! Sure, He was God, but He walked among mankind and gave us undeniable examples of how to live in our world. When the disciples wanted to send the five thousand away, Jesus made sure they were fed. In scene after scene throughout Matthew we find the needs of people being a priority to Jesus. It is too easy for me (and maybe you) to focus on my needs rather than to reflect the love of Christ to others.

Some key thoughts have grabbed my attention this week in looking at Christ. His life was a battle, just like ours (and even more so). He was attacked by Satan, and gained victory through quoting God’s Word. So can I! He showed compassion to others, even when it may have been taxing physically. So can I! He spent time with the Father and prayed. So can I! Now, I would like to be able to heal, walk on water, calm the storm and multiply the loaves and fishes, but that’s not for us. However, to model the way He defeated Satan, cared for others and effectively communicated with the Father are undeniable examples of how we can live with distinction this year. The question is… how highly do we value these attributes?

In the familiar passage from Matthew on ‘taking up our cross and following Christ,’ the following words of Christ give us a very clear perspective.

If you don’t go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don’t deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you’ll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you’ll find both yourself and me.
Matthew 10:38-39 (MSG)

When our first concern is ourselves (and it often is), others lose and we certainly don’t communicate well with the Father. But when you and I forget about personal agendas and look to Him, things change. Christ was all about others … and the world was changed. When you and I model His life, the Lord will use us for change. Forgetting about ourselves and looking to Him is admittedly not easy, but the results will be undeniable. As the demands of this year heat up, remember that others need you, and Christ will guide you.

One of my favorite quotes of all time relates to how Christ focused on others. Dr. Richard Swenson made this statement (which I fully believe): “The focus of Christ’s ministry was always the person right in front of Him.” If you and I will just seek to allow the person in front of us to be the focus of our ministry … Wow, what a year it will be!

“Man is at his greatest and highest when upon his knees he comes face to face to God.”
– Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Our reading this first week of the year has taken us to a very familiar passage in Matthew (6:9-13).  The Lord’s Prayer has been recited at weddings, funerals, baby dedications and even the occasional ballgame!  We all know it; we’ve all said it; we’ve all … missed it?!

Let’s take a minute to ponder what this section of Scripture named (by man), the Lord’s Prayer, actually is … or is not!  Jesus begins, “Pray like this …”  This prayer is a guide, a template if you would, of how to model our own daily prayer.  If you read this specific passage again, I wonder what you might notice.  Every bit of the model exalts the Almighty.  In other words, our prayers should focus completely on God – praising, marveling, worshipping, and loving … God.  John McArthur is fond of comparing Christians’ prayers to sailors:  we pray the way sailors use their pumps … only when the ship is sinking!  We look at prayer as a time for us to tell God what we want!  When you read these verses again, perhaps you will see how much we have misunderstood the entire concept of prayer.

Let’s consider for a minute what this section of Scripture does NOT tell us:

It does not tell us where to pray.

It does not tell us when to pray.

It does not tell us what to wear.

It does not tell us what words to use.

So how do we know how to pray?  For that, Jesus gave us the example of His own prayer time.

Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer.  He often rose early (before daybreak), yet we often see Him praying again in the evening.  And most telling, He always found a private place to pray alone.

So, I have been challenged at times in my life to take a closer look at the Lord’s Prayer.  I am reminded that we can pray in church or in the garage.  We can wear our Sunday best or our PJ’s.  We can pray at dawn or midnight.  But most importantly, we are not praying to a divine ‘Santa,’ approaching Him with a list of wants and desires.  Everything in our prayers should be moving toward one purpose … that God’s Son is glorified.

So here is our call to action:  Use the Lord’s Prayer as a guide to move toward prayer time that centers on God.  As we take our burdens to Him, our desire should move away from what we think should happen and move toward God’s perfect will, knowing that His action upon those prayers have one purpose – Glorifying His Son, Jesus Christ.

Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Matthew 6:9-13 (ESV)

It is now day 2 of 365, and we have a long way to go. Does that make you feel a bit weary? And think about all of last year’s New Year’s resolutions that were reduced to wishful thinking by about day 10 of 365. Don’t worry; my goal is not to depress you the first week of 2017. My concern is, however, that on day 2/365 many of us have already drifted mentally to 4/365, or 6/365. You can fill in any day, but a common struggle for all of us is living lives that are consumed with anything but simply today. Many reading this article may already be building next week’s work agenda, others may be anxious about family issues that are out of control, and still others may be chained to a myriad of other concerns that move us from today. My premise is, this is day 2 of 365. It is all we have been given and, therefore, it should be maximized.

So, just for a moment, forget New Year’s resolutions and begin to think about today’s opportunities. If we can live each day as 1 of 1, then the moments, people, and issues of today take on greater significance. My personal Bible reading for the year is starting with Matthew, and Matthew 6:34 gives perspective on living just today.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (NLT)

Good counsel for sure, but there is a subtle emotion that runs through most Christ-followers that craves living tomorrow before it comes.  There is nothing wrong with planning and preparing for the future, but when the future disrupts the moments of today, something is wrong.

In beginning the New Year, I (like you) want to prepare myself the right way. And the right way is to live in the fullness of today (1 of 1). A few reflections came to my mind in thinking about beginning anew. I want to share a couple that may help challenge you to live 1 of 1. Don’t worry about perfection, just start working on today.

… It isn’t the burdens of today that drive men mad, but rather the regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.
From The Station, by Robert J. Hastings.

… ”I want each of you to go away from this place and never hurry again. Hurry is always an expression of anxiety and the sign of a deeper problem.”
Quoted from Dallas Willard  in the book Apprenticeship with Jesus, by Gary W. Moon.

The first quote is obvious as we think about living 1 of 1. When looking at Dallas Willard’s quote, the logic of living today may not be as clear. But when we choose to only live today, the hurry that erupts from thoughts of tomorrow should begin to dissipate. Living 1 of 1 will cause you and I to listen better, focus on others as they speak, and generally to live in the moment. It can be done!

Often in the course of a conversation, I will say to someone, “Every day you give away is gone.” Sadly, looking ahead to 4 of 365, 6 of 365, and 25 of 365 in previous years of my life have caused me to give some days away. I know what Matthew 6:34 states, and I believe it can be lived. So as you and I begin 2017, let it not only be about the regular New Year’s traditions and resolutions, but let it be about living 1 of 1! You will be glad you did.