What fear about tomorrow is most burdening you today? Many are worried about finances in this changing economy. Some are facing health crises. Some are struggling to keep their families together. Students are looking toward the fall, some with excitement and others with anxiety. We're always down on whatever we're not up on. It's human nature to fear what we do not know, and none of us knows tomorrow.

So we are learning to find God's peace for each day as that day comes. Thomas Kelly (A Testament of Devotion...see essays for 7-25, 7-26, and 7-27) encourages us to invite Jesus into our souls; practice his presence daily; and abandon ourselves to his purpose and power. When we live in his presence like this, and we give our fears about the future to him, they are replaced by his peace. But it's not easy. You may need to give your fears to your Father a hundred times this morning. If so, do it every time. Eventually fear will subside and faith will take its place.

Plan for the future, but don't live there. Pay your bills. Make preparations. Much of our fear about tomorrow comes from feeling that we're not prepared for what it might bring. Be as ready as you can be. Then leave the results with God.

And choose to live in the now by walking in the presence of Jesus. Begin where you are. Give all you know of yourself to all you know of him. Stay in prayer and worship. Live in the Spirit. And find in the Eternal Now the peace your heart longs to know.

Said the Robin to the Sparrow, "I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings rush around and worry so."
Said the Sparrow to the Robin, "Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no heavenly Father such as cares for you and me."

Read Jesus' words once more: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?...But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:25-27, 33-34).

Either Jesus was right or he was wrong. Which will it be for you today?

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