What Day Are You Living In?

We’ve been talking about living in God’s Presence today by focusing our minds and thoughts.
I know I’ve recommended this before, but it’s worth repeating: 
The devotional by Sarah Young Jesus Calling is an excellent help in cultivating that living in God’s presence.

On September 17 she writes, “You will not find MY Peace by engaging in excessive planning; attempting to control what will happen to you in the future. That is a commonly practiced form of unbelief. When your mind spins with multiple plans, Peace may sometimes seem to be within your grasp; yet it always eludes you…. I(God) did not design the human mind to figure out the future. That is beyond your capability. I crafted your mind for continual communication with Me. Bring Me all your needs, your hopes and fears. Commit everything into My care. Turn from the path of planning to the path of Peace.”

On Oct 17 (I don’t read the right days ever) she writes, “Anxiety is a result of envisioning the future without Me (God). So the best defense against worry is staying in communication with Me.

Satan wishes for us to dwell in the past or in the future.
IN THE PAST
When we think in the past, by dwelling on our inadequacies, sin, struggles, and failures, we cheapen God’s power. It’s unbelief. We doubt Christ’s righteousness.
He became our righteousness when we accept His lordship.
There is nothing better.
But we beat ourselves up with our failures instead of praising God for the righteousness He gave us.

IN THE FUTURE
Or Satan lets us plan the future with all its uncertainties, what if’s and how can I do this.
Remember we can’t do it.
That’s our pride trying to bolster us into thinking we could even have enough strength.
We are weak.
That makes us forget God is in control of the future. 
He has it all planned for us.
It's just for us to live it—talking with Him.

We just need to rest in the NOW.
There’s no hurry in NOW.
There’s no failure in NOW.
There’s no problems in NOW, when God is holding our hands.
And He provides the strength for this moment.

I’ve struggled with this lately. A LOT.
After a year of seeing specialists for my pain, my MRI showed several issues.
A pain specialists recommended burning the nerves in my back for temporary relief of the constant pain—
So several procedures later, they burned both sides of my lower back’s nerves. 
They cautioned I would ache for 4-6 weeks afterward as the nerve continued to die (a slow death), but then it should resolve, if it worked.
This would not address my feet and legs tingling, but at least the constant pain would be gone.

While this four week period of waiting for my nerves to finish dying (not quite the picture I want to keep),
I am scheduled for a similar surgery that I had 18 years ago.
This takes place tomorrow.

Satan is great at throwing darts as I remember my almost death experience (my heartrate went to 15 beats/min), and my “as close to hell-like experience that I want to ever have” that I had 18 years ago while re-cooping from the similar surgery.
I will spare you all the details, but Joey was deployed, I had 7 boys under 12 years, with a newborn that I could either nurse or give to our neighbor for them to bring him for visits to me and I was required to stay in bed. (Guess I didn't spare you much details)
(This surgery tomorrow involves more repair, but Joey is home and no newborns to nurse.)

But remember Satan likes to get us thinking of the past.
My mind still remembers.
But I must redirect my thoughts to NOW. 
God is still with me.
He is still the Healer.
He did bring me through that one.
He can bring me through this one.
He is still in charge.
And God is still GOOD TO ME.

Not only does Satan win the victory when I dwell on the past, but he wins when I dwell on the future—anticipating the recovering.
I remember (the past) how hard it was to recoup, so I dread the future recovery.
I can’t drive for at least 2 weeks.
I can’t lift anything—not even a gallon of milk for six weeks.
But I have to walk to avoid clots. (Least that's better than staying in the hospital bed for 6 weeks!)
And please don't cough or sneeze, and allow my bathroom time to be smooth.
Oh yeah, I have a son’s wedding in those weeks of recovery that I'll be flying to California.

I can worry about the future and give Satan the victory,
OR I can direct my thoughts to Who God is NOW.
God is still with me.
He is still the Healer.
He gives strength for THIS DAY. (Or this moment).
He is still good-to-me.
He doesn’t give me anything that isn’t HIS BEST for me.

When I rest in the PRESENT with God, He is glorified.
I have His peace.
And I come to know Him better.

But it's a battle.
A battle for my mind.
Who will win this moment?
God calls me to focus on Him.
I initially didn't want to tell anyone. Who wants to acknowledge a need?
But I do need prayer.
My strength is not enough, but I know Whose is. 

Where are you today?
Anxious about the future?
Wishing to change the past?
OR striving to worship God in this moment?

God gives us this moment to worship and praise Him.
As I direct my thoughts to Him for EVERY LITTLE THING, I come to realize those BIG THINGS are planned by Him to help me know and praise Him better.
And those BIG THINGS pale in significance when He is beside me.
He will be with me and I will know what day I'm living in—it will be right now.

I write about what matters...to you---
women, wives and moms---
about your family, faith and future.
I write about what's hard, what helps and what heals.
I show you how it's done. And not done.
I hold your hand as you find what matters to the Savior.
And let go of those things that mattered to you, but not to Him.
I write about what matters...to Him.
               Sonya Contreras

Faith
Find more articles about faith here:
Looking for Something Good To Read?
A Cup of Cold Water
I Will Trust When I Cannot See
Encouragement—What Is It?
Being in God's Presence
"Einstein and the Professor"
When God Is Silent
Do You Crave Beauty?
Using Stories to Discipline
The Danger of the Wrong Story
Using Stories to Teach Lessons
God is in charge of the future
November Dare Joy Challenge
Ungratefulness
Developing an Attitude of Gratitude
Looking for Jesus
What Do Your Prayers Reflect?
Life's Little Pleasures
Daniel—Greatly Loved by God
Take Every Thought
Jars of Clay
What Do Your Words Reveal about Your Heart?
How Do You Get Strong Faith?
Too Busy for God's Word?
How Do You Think Like Jesus?
Reflections from a Mom
Pain—What's It Good For?
Why Marry?
Consider the Robin
One Life Who Made a Difference
What Day Are You Living In?
Interrupted by God
Is Jesus Really the Answer to Everything?
Are You Beat Up?
What's Your Hurry?
Are You a Manipulator?
Are You Salty?
Are You Condemned?
Trying to Understand?
Do You Expect Answers to Your Prayers?
Do You Eat Your Stress?
Need Focus?
Going through Trouble?
Immanuel—God with Us
Looking for a Relationship?
When God Says, "No!"
What Do You Do with Left-Overs?
How Great Is Your God?
Are You Needy?
How Do You See Sin?
What Do Your Words Mean?
Is Evil Overwhelming You?
Those Aha Moments
Is Your Soul Happy?
Are You Ignored?
Looking for the God Moment
Do You Know Truth from Almost Truth?
I Believe in Jesus—What Now?
Do You Have Your "Son"-Glasses On?
Less Is More
Singing His Praise
Are You Trying To Do It All?
What Do You Do with All These Prayer Requests?
Have a Problem?
Do You Know How to Pray?
Looking for God in Every Moment
Are You Receptive to God's Blessings?
Tell the Senate: Mothers Aren't Birthing People
Is Your Life Complicated?
How Do We Fight Evil?
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Giving Up or Taking Away
the Bible is simple
Are You a Dripping Faucet?
What's Your Testimony?
The Final Move
Be Careful What You Wish For!
Are Your Prayers Answered?
I Choose Joy
What Have You Learned from Your Hardship?
Who Are You Trying to Change?
What's Your Five-Year Plan?
The Danger of "Aloneness"
My Colors
Are You a Whiner?
Are Your Works Approved?
Do You Think You're Stressed?
Is Your Soul Feeling Ragged?
God Speaks to the Heart of the King
What about the Details?
Have You Felt the Long-Suffering of God?
How Does God Lead You?
Do You Have Enough?
Don't Carry More than You Need
Cast the Seed
God Is Faithful
Are You Deceived?
Are You Essential?
Are You Safe?
Are You Tired of the Same Old Thing?
Does the World Make Sense?
Have You Seen God's Majesty?
Do You Feel Judged?
If You Only Had One More Day To Live
Are You Understood?
Do You Long for the Word of God?
Slow Down and Smell the Dead Leaves
Are You Hospitable?
Our Heritage Is Bought by Blood
Are You Disturbed?
Are You Depressed?
I Did It My Way
Finding the Simple Life with Meaning
The Simple Life
Do You Have the Right Words?
Did Your Dream Die?
On the Other Side of the Fence
Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence
Confessions of a Desperate Mom
Saving for Tomorrow
A Wedding Remembered
Who Will Stand in the Gap?
Are You a Protector or a Ruler?
Who Are You?
Are You an Image Bearer or a Wad of Cells?
Are You a Watchman?
Where Do You Find Meaning?
The Lamb of God as Told by a Scribe
What Love Is This?
Remember: The Symbols of Passover Explained
Tea and Rest
Do You Have Peace?
What Makes a Marriage Work?
When Life Is Awful
Are You Strong Enough?
Rules
Seasons
Be Faithful through Suffering
Do You Know the Word?
Wake Up! Strengthen What Remains
Are You Spit in God's Mouth?
Is Jezebel in Your Midst?
Do You Stand Against Satan Himself?
Are You Tired of Being a Mom?
What in the World Is Happening?
It's Not My Story
How Would Your Faith Compare?
Are You Sinking?
Are You a Rule Follower?
Useful for Him
An Intimate Moment with Mary
The Worldview that Makes the
   Underclass
Thoughts to Ponder
What Does It Take To Know the
    Heart of God?
See the Story in the Stars
Do the Scriptures Burn You?
Being in His Presence
Contentment: It's Not for the Timid
How Secure Are You?
How Do You Respond To Stupid People?
The Earthworm Is My Hero
Heart Issues or Issues of the Heart
Things Aren't Always What They Seem
More faith articles are found here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Or here:

under the Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Articles on Suffering can be found  here, 

under Table of Contents. Also available in book form.
Special Days
Remember: The Symbols of 
   Passover Explained    
Aug 12, 2017 The Heavens Declare the Glory of God
July 4th, Freedom
What Is an American Soldier?
Valentine's Day: A Day of Love?
Memorial Day-A Day To Remember
Veterans' Day-To Honor Our Men
Fall Colors
First Thanksgiving Day
    Proclamation
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs
Christmas: Stories behind the Songs, part 2