Don't Be Anxious About Tomorrow

From: The Purpose Driven Life Ministries

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know well the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! plans to give you a future full of hope."

No matter what the pollsters, pundits, and prognosticators claim, no one can accurately predict all that is going to happen in the next year, let alone the next few days or weeks. Our best forecasts are just educated guesses.

The Bible suggests three timeless principles for facing an uncertain future:

1. Set goals according to God's direction. It's foolish to make plans without first consulting God. He's the only one who does know the future – and he's eager to guide you through it. The Bible says, "We may make our plans, but God has the last word" (Proverbs 16:1). In other words, planning without praying is presumption. Start by praying, "God, what do you want me to do in 2009?"

2. Live one day at a time. While you can plan for tomorrow, you can't live it until it arrives. Most people spend so much time regretting the past and worrying about the future, they have no time to enjoy today! Jesus said, "Don't be anxious about tomorrow. God will take care of your tomorrow too. Live one day at a time" (Matthew 6:34).

3. Don't procrastinate. Do it now! "Don't boast about what you're going to do tomorrow, for you don't know what a day may bring forth" (Proverbs 27:1). Procrastinating is a subtle trap. It wastes today by postponing things until tomorrow. You promise yourself that you'll do it "one of these days." But "one of these days" is usually "none of these days."

What did you plan to get done last year that you didn't do? When do you intend to start working on it?