September 26: Be Present Today
Scripture
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
—Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
This isn’t a suggestion; it’s a command from Jesus Himself. Matthew 6:34 concludes His teaching about worry, where He promises that if we seek first His Kingdom, God will provide what we truly need—food, clothing, and shelter. Then He leaves us with this truth: worry about tomorrow robs us of the life God wants us to experience today.
When our minds are consumed with what might happen, we miss what is actually happening. We fail to notice God’s presence and miss opportunities to bless the people right in front of us. Worry about tomorrow doesn’t just steal our peace, it steals our presence. Today has its own challenges, but it also has its own opportunities. When we carry tomorrow’s burdens into today, we end up carrying loads we were never meant to bear.
And here’s the irony: some studies suggest that as much as 85% of the things we worry about never even happen. Jesus knew this long before any research confirmed it. He reminds us that our future is secure in the Father’s hands, and none of us is even guaranteed tomorrow. Why waste today’s joy on a future we may never experience? As Corrie ten Boom once said, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.”¹
The invitation is simple but profound: live today with God. Be present with Him, trust Him for tomorrow, and bless the people He has placed in your path right now. The Kingdom of God is not somewhere out there in the future; it is here, breaking into today. Live in it fully.
Reflection
1. What are the worries about tomorrow that most often steal your peace today?
2. How might worry keep you from being fully present with God and with others?
3. What step can you take today to seek God’s Kingdom first instead of being consumed with tomorrow?
Prayer
Ask God to free you from the grip of worry about tomorrow. Pray for His Spirit to anchor your heart in the present and help you live today with trust, peace, and Kingdom purpose.
Footnote
¹ Corrie ten Boom, Clippings from My Notebook.