Repeat After Me: “Now. Here. This.”
Many of us have heard the advice to “live in the present.” A wise woman recently explained that when she begins to get stressed about her situation or begins to fear what might happen in the future, one of her loved ones asks her a series of three questions:
1) What time is it?
2) Where are you?
3) What are you doing?
The responses she is required to give back are: “now,” “here,” and “this.”
This suggestion is an amazing way for us to stop sinking deeper into the stress-filled places we often go. No matter what is occurring, we can pause and ask ourselves these same questions. I’ve been giving it a try, and I love how it reboots my thinking.
1) If I recognize that it is “now” and not some time in the past, I am free from reviewing what might have gone wrong or any regrets I may have. I can also avoid projecting what might happen in the future. That kind of thinking only takes me down paths where I can’t see.
As a young bride I often spent too much time and emotion worrying what would happen to me if I lost my husband. The farther I “walked” down that unknown path, the darker it was and the more fearful I became. Instead, we can all remind ourselves that as we stick close to the Lord, He lights our path with His truth. We are safe and have greater peace.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
That shines brighter and brighter until the full day. – Proverbs 4:18 (NASB)
2) If I recognize that is is “here” I am living, I remember that I am never alone. God has led me to this place where I am–at this very moment–because of His grace and sovereignty, and I can be assured He will work out His purposes here as He remains with me.
There are no surprises for God. There are no places where He won’t accompany us. He makes no mistakes, and our souls can rest in His presence…everywhere.
Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me? – Hebrews 13:5b (The Message)
3) And, if I recognize that it is “this” that I am involved in, I can find His joy in whatever it may be. I can better focus on the job I am doing, the person I am with, the fun I am having, or even the rest I am enjoying.
And God is able to make all grace overflow to you so that because you have enough of everything in every way at all times, you will overflow in every good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NET)
I have to confess that I am a compulsive multi-tasker. We have to be extremely careful with this temptation, especially when it involves our husbands and children. It might be okay when it comes to doing chores and listening to music or a podcast, but it doesn’t bode well for a relationship when I am trying to complete a task and pretending to communicate with someone at the same time. I am too often guilty of being disrespectful of others by dividing my attention. People notice; people are hurt. (I apologize!)
I struggle with all of three of these questions, but I don’t have to, and neither do you.
God’s way for us is so much simpler than we realize. Instead of making our own lives more complicated and stressing over the “last thing” or the “next thing,” let’s freely be who He made us to be: now, here, and in this.
GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!
