This fall I’ve been learning about stress-free living. I have more and more speaking engagements and teaching opportunities that need a lot of preparation and prayer. Of course, I try to find time for blogging and my ministry on line. Also, I am an active member at my church for various committees and programs and so forth. On the top of all this I have a husband and two active kids who also need my attention and time. All this have at times felt overwhelming. So I’ve been praying for God to show me the way for stress-free living. God has reminded me of two things that have really helped me.

Meet God at the present moment

God told us his name is ‘I AM’. Not ‘I was’ or ‘I will be’. God has promised to always be with us yet we can only meet him at the present moment. Yesterday is gone, tomorrow is not here yet but today we can praise the Lord. Today is enough. I am enough. Most importantly, God is more than enough. We are called to enjoy the present and leave the rest to God.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. (Matthew 6:34, MSG)

Let God takes care of the big picture

Another thing that has helped me to live in the present is realising anew that I am a child of God. My heavenly father takes care of me. Hence I don’t need to know the big picture. I can rest in him and trust that he will take care of me like he has promised. This is something I have had to intentionally practice but it has helped me. Truly, I don’t need to understand everything in order to follow Christ today. My task is to be faithful at the present, God is already preparing the future for me.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for reminding me of living like your child
and leaving my worries to you.
Be praised for taking such good care of me.
Thank you for wanting stress-free living for me.
Enable me to live in the present praising you.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What are your ways to stress-free living?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you meet God at the present moment!

Image courtesy of crationswap.com, design by Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with #SmallWonder.