Tag: tomorrow
Day 3–Presumption on Tomorrow
Scripture reading for April 8: Proverbs 27:1 “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.
James 4: 13-15“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”–yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
Many people are very presumptive about time and assume that time will go on as it has for the future. Scripture from Solomon’s time warns us not to boast about tomorrow for no one knows what tomorrow will bring except God. There are a host of people claiming to be prophets that can accurately predict what will happen in the future. We are warned not to believe everyone who says they know the future and as Christ’s followers we are not to seek out the future. We are given what we need to know by God through the Word and Jesus Christ.
James, speaking to the early church, tried to reason with those making confident assertions about tomorrow as far as making concrete plans. James warned believers that their lives were very short, like a mist that appears and then vanishes in the sun. Instead of arrogantly boasting about plans, we should always make room for God’s plans and His will being worked out in our lives. Our time is not our own, but rather is in His loving and capable hands. We must stay humble and submit to His will and plans.
Responders also need to keep these truths in their own hearts as they work with others. We recognize that God is in charge of each person and we work for Him and with Him in each situation. We ask for His help and seek His will and trust Him for the outcomes.
Prayer: Father God, I sometimes struggle with plans and working out everything that I want to get done. I speak about those plans but am learning more and more to say ‘If the Lord wills’ and rest in Your timing and season. It is a joy to trust You! Amen.
One more night with the frogs!
Scripture reading for January 20th: Exodus 7-9
When I was younger, we would hunt frogs each fall on a late October night that was lit by a full moon. It was an annual ritual that our neighborhood used to enjoy. The men would go out after dark with flashlights, spears, and burlap sacks and head for the farm ponds. The frogs would be gathering in clusters, getting ready to head down into the mud for the winter. They were easy picking! After harvest, the neighbors would gather to eat fried frog legs and pot-blessing, play cards and swap stories about the harvest. It was great food and a good time!
Moses had decreed a plague of frogs on the land of Egypt because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to worship God. The Egyptians worshiped frogs, and now frogs filled the land. They were in the fields, houses, marketplaces, Pharaoh’s palace, and even in the bedrooms! Pharaoh summoned Moses to ask for prayer to God to get rid of those frogs. Moses allowed Pharaoh to set the time when the frogs would be gone. Pharaoh’s answer was “tomorrow”. Did Pharaoh want one more night of frog hunting? Did he enjoy sleeping with the frogs? These are some silly questions to ponder about this story!
It amazes me that when God offers us freedom to ask Him for anything, (John 14:13) we often answer just like Pharaoh: “tomorrow”. Do we want one more night with our addiction? Do we want to be sick one more night? Do we want one more night to be angry and bitter? Tomorrow never really comes. When we procrastinate, we are saying that we love our sin or problem more than we love God. We want one more night with the frogs!
What day do you want the Lord to give you relief from ‘frogs’ of sickness, addiction, or bondage? Are you struggling with your willingness to give up and ask God right now? Will tomorrow ever come?
2nd Corinthians 6:2 “For He says, “in a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Procrastination!
Scripture Reading for January 21st: Exodus 7-9
When I was younger, we would hunt frogs each fall on a late October night. It was an annual ritual that our neighborhood used to enjoy. The men would go out after dark with flashlights, spears, and burlap sacks and head for the farm ponds. The frogs would be gathering in clusters, getting ready to head down into the mud for the winter. They were easy picking! After harvest, the neighbors would gather to eat fried frog legs and pot-blessing, play cards and swap stories about the harvest. It was great food and a good time!
Moses had decreed a plague of frogs on the land of Egypt because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to worship God and they worshiped frogs. Frogs filled the land. They were in the fields, houses, marketplace, Pharaoh’s palace, and in the bedrooms! Pharaoh summoned Moses to ask him to pray to get rid of them. Moses, trying to be polite, allowed Pharaoh to set the time when the frogs would be gone. Pharaoh’s answer was, “tomorrow”. Why tomorrow? Did Pharaoh want one more night of frog hunting too? Did he enjoy sleeping with the frogs? Maybe one of his magicians had turned one of his kids into a frog? These are some silly questions to ponder but there are more serious ones.
It amazes me that when God offers us freedom to ask Him for anything (John 14:13), we often answer like Pharaoh. We must want one more night with our addiction or to be sick one more night. Maybe we want one more night to be angry and bitter. When we procrastinate, we are saying that we love our sin or problem more than we love God. In essence, we want one more night with the frogs! Ask the Lord to help you break the bondage of procrastination. Sit down with him today and get it taken care of!
“Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
One more night with the frogs!
Scripture reading for January 21st: Exodus 7-10
When I was younger, we would hunt frogs each fall on a late October night that was lit by a full moon. It was an annual ritual that our neighborhood used to enjoy. The men would go out after dark with flashlights, spears, and burlap sacks and head for the farm ponds. The frogs would be gathering in clusters, getting ready to head down into the mud for the winter. They were easy picking! After harvest, the neighbors would gather to eat fried frog legs and pot-blessing, play cards and swap stories about the harvest. It was great food and a good time!
In our reading today we have another story about frogs. Moses had decreed a plague of frogs on the land of Egypt because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to worship God. Frogs filled the land. They were in the fields, houses, marketplace, Pharaoh’s palace, and even in the bedrooms! Pharaoh summoned Moses to ask him to pray to God to get rid of those frogs. Moses, trying to be polite, allowed Pharaoh to set the time when the frogs would be gone. Pharaoh’s answer was, “tomorrow”. Why tomorrow? Did Pharaoh want one more night of frog hunting too? Did he enjoy sleeping with the frogs? Maybe one of his magicians had turned one of his kids into a frog? These are some silly questions to ponder about this story! There are more serious ones.
It amazes me that when God offers us freedom to ask Him for anything, (John 14:13) we often answer just like Pharaoh: “tomorrow”. Do we want one more night with our addiction? Do we want to be sick one more night? Do we want one more night to be angry and bitter? Tomorrow never really comes. When we procrastinate, we are saying that we love our sin or problem more than we love God. We want one more night with the frogs!
Ask the Lord to help you break the bondage of procrastination. Sit down with him today and get it taken care of! Frogs may be tasty animals, but you don’t need another night with them!
“Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
One more night with the frogs!
When I was younger, we would hunt frogs each fall on a late October night that was lit by a full moon. It was an annual ritual that our neighborhood used to enjoy. The men would go out after dark with flashlights, spears, and burlap sacks and head for the farm ponds. The frogs would be gathering in clusters, getting ready to head down into the mud for the winter. They were easy picking! After harvest, the neighbors would gather to eat fried frog legs and pot-blessing, play cards and swap stories about the harvest. It was great food and a good time!
In our reading today we have another story about frogs. Moses had decreed a plague of frogs on the land of Egypt because Pharaoh would not let the Israelites go to worship God. Frogs filled the land. They were in the fields, houses, marketplace, Pharaoh’s palace, and even in the bedrooms! Pharaoh summoned Moses to ask for prayer to God to get rid of those frogs. Moses, trying to be polite, allowed Pharaoh to set the time when the frogs would be gone. Pharaoh’s answer was, “tomorrow”. Why tomorrow? Did Pharaoh want one more night of frog hunting too? Did he enjoy sleeping with the frogs? Maybe one of his magicians had turned one of his kids into a frog? These are some silly questions to ponder about this story! There are more serious ones.
It amazes me that when God offers us freedom to ask Him for anything, (John 14:13) we often answer just like Pharaoh: “tomorrow”. Do we want one more night with our addiction? Do we want to be sick one more night? Do we want one more night to be angry and bitter? Tomorrow never really comes. When we procrastinate, we are saying that we love our sin or problem more than we love God. We want one more night with the frogs!
Ask the Lord to help you break the bondage of procrastination. Sit down with him today and get it taken care of! Frogs may be tasty animals, but you don’t need another night with them!
“Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7
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