James 4:15 (KJV) ~ “For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”
In James 4:13–17, James addresses believers who confidently make plans for tomorrow without acknowledging their dependence upon God. They have determined where they will go, how long they will stay, and what they expect to accomplish. Yet James reminds them that they do not know what tomorrow will bring because life is like a vapor, appearing for a little while and then vanishing away. James is not teaching that planning is wrong. He is confronting the pride of believing that tomorrow belongs to us. In verse 15, he instructs believers to say, “If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” Then, in verse 17, he reminds them that knowing what is right carries the responsibility of doing it.
These verses bring together two important truths: You must surrender the tomorrow you cannot control while remaining faithful to the today God has entrusted to you. Jesus reinforces this principle in Matthew 6:25–34 when He teaches His followers not to become consumed with anxiety about tomorrow. He reminds them that their heavenly Father knows their needs and encourages them to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness. In Matthew 6:11, He teaches them to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” emphasizing daily dependence upon the Father. God has not asked you to live yesterday again or enter tomorrow before it arrives. He calls you to trust Him, seek His wisdom, and live faithfully within the day before you.
Have you ever reached the end of a day and realized that although you were busy from morning until evening, you were never fully present? You completed responsibilities, responded to messages, participated in conversations, and moved from one obligation to another, yet your thoughts were continually somewhere else. Perhaps you were revisiting yesterday’s disappointments, anticipating tomorrow’s responsibilities, or worrying about circumstances you could not control. You were physically present, but your mind was living in another day. As we conclude this first week of our devotional journey, I want you to consider this question: If you cannot change yesterday and cannot control tomorrow, how will you choose to live today?
We began this journey by moving from “For I Know” to “If the Lord Wills,” recognizing that our confidence in God’s character should lead us into deeper surrender. We examined the vapor of life and learned that every moment matters. We considered the mist of yesterday and the importance of releasing the past without losing its lessons. We also examined faith in the fog, learning to trust God when tomorrow remains unclear. Now, all those teachings bring us back to the present, because you can spend so much time remembering what happened or anticipating what might happen that you overlook what God is doing right now. You cannot experience today’s fullness while continually allowing yesterday and tomorrow to occupy your attention.
In Luke 10:38–42, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home while Mary sat at His feet listening to His teaching. Martha became distracted by the responsibilities of serving and eventually expressed frustration that Mary was not helping her. Jesus responded by acknowledging that Martha was anxious and troubled about many things, while Mary had chosen what was necessary in that moment. Martha’s service was not wrong, but her distraction had become greater than her attentiveness to Jesus. And sometimes you can find yourself in the same position. You may be serving in ministry, caring for your family, managing responsibilities, or working diligently toward your goals, yet become so consumed with what needs to be done that you neglect your relationship with the One who gives you strength.
You may be doing good things while missing the opportunity to become still in God’s Presence. John 15:4–5 reminds you that Jesus is the vine and believers are the branches. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine, your spiritual fruitfulness depends upon remaining connected to Christ. Your accomplishments may be meaningful, but they cannot replace the importance of abiding in Him. God is not asking you to abandon your responsibilities. He is teaching you to fulfill them while remaining dependent upon Him.
Matthew 6:34 declares, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Jesus is not instructing you to neglect preparation. He is teaching you not to allow tomorrow’s concerns to consume today’s peace. You can prepare responsibly for the future without carrying the emotional weight of situations that have not yet occurred. Perhaps you are waiting for an answer, anticipating a decision, or praying about circumstances that remain uncertain. You have done what you know to do, yet your thoughts continually return to the possibilities of what might happen next. But consider how much energy you may be spending on a day you have not yet entered.
Lamentations 3:22–23 reminds you that God’s mercies are new every morning. He provides grace for the day before you, even when the future remains uncertain. You may not possess every answer, but you can seek His wisdom concerning what requires your attention now. You do not have to carry tomorrow’s concerns to demonstrate today’s faithfulness. You need to live within the confines of today. Psalm 118:24 declares, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” This scripture reminds you to recognize God’s goodness rather than allowing your circumstances to determine whether you will acknowledge His faithfulness.
Living within the confines of your day means understanding that your time, strength, knowledge, and abilities have limitations. You cannot accomplish everything at once, resolve every problem, or control every outcome. But you can seek God’s wisdom, respond to the responsibilities before you, and remain attentive to the people and opportunities He has entrusted to you. Ephesians 5:15–17 encourages believers to walk wisely, redeem the time, and understand the will of the Lord. Redeeming the time does not mean filling every moment with activity. It means recognizing the value of your opportunities and responding with wisdom. Sometimes faithfulness requires action, while other times it requires patience, prayer, listening, or rest. You must learn the difference between what is important and what is merely demanding your attention.
And this brings us back to the prayer that has guided our entire week: “Father, teach me how to live within the confines of my day, that I may flow in Your Presence in my present, and not in tomorrow nor my past, in the Name of Jesus Christ.” You do not have to wait until your circumstances improve to experience God’s Presence. You do not have to resolve every uncertainty before you can receive His peace. You can acknowledge Him in your work, your conversations, your responsibilities, and the quiet moments of your day. As we conclude this first week, remember that surrender is not simply saying, “Lord, Your will be done.” It is learning to live each day in a way that demonstrates your willingness to trust Him. Yesterday is behind you, tomorrow is beyond you but today is before you. How will you honor God with it?
As you reflect upon today’s devotional, consider whether you have been living fully in the day God has entrusted to you. Have yesterday’s disappointments or tomorrow’s uncertainties been distracting you from your present responsibilities and blessings? Are you so occupied with doing things for God that you have neglected spending meaningful time with Him? Ask the Lord to reveal what deserves your attention today, what needs to be released, and how you can become more intentional about recognizing His Presence in your everyday life.
Let’s Pray:
Father, in the mighty and matchless Name of Jesus Christ, I come before You with a grateful heart, thanking You for the gift of another day. Thank You for Your mercy, Your faithfulness, and the breath You have placed within my body. I acknowledge that my life belongs to You and that every moment I experience is sustained by Your grace. Father, as I conclude this first week of my devotional journey, thank You for teaching me the importance of surrendering my plans, valuing my time, releasing yesterday, and trusting You with tomorrow. Forgive me for the moments when I have allowed past disappointments or future uncertainties to consume my thoughts and distract me from the responsibilities and blessings of today. Lord, teach me how to live within the confines of my day, that I may flow in Your Presence in my present, and not in tomorrow nor my past, in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Help me stop carrying yesterday’s burdens into today’s opportunities and tomorrow’s concerns into today’s peace. Teach me to receive the grace You have provided for this day without demanding answers concerning circumstances that have not yet unfolded. Father, give me wisdom to recognize what requires my attention and discernment to release what remains beyond my control. Help me fulfill my responsibilities without becoming consumed by constant activity. Teach me when to work, when to rest, when to speak, when to listen, and when to become still enough to acknowledge Your Presence. Lord, forgive me for the times I have become so busy doing things for You that I have neglected spending time with You. Draw my heart closer to Jesus Christ and teach me to abide in Him. May my work, my service, my conversations, and my relationships reflect the love, humility, and wisdom of Your Word. Father, help me appreciate the ordinary moments I sometimes overlook. Teach me to value the people around me, recognize opportunities to demonstrate kindness, and respond faithfully when You have made my responsibilities clear. Where I have postponed what I know is right, give me courage and discipline to respond. Where I have become overwhelmed by what remains unfinished, give me wisdom to establish appropriate priorities and peace concerning what must wait. Lord, as I prepare to enter the second week of this journey, examine my heart and help me become a better steward of the time You have entrusted to me. I do not want to spend my life waiting for another season while overlooking Your goodness in this one. Teach me to live intentionally, love faithfully, serve responsibly, and remain conscious of Your Presence. Father, today I surrender yesterday into Your hands, entrust tomorrow to Your will, and receive today with gratitude. May my heart remain humble, my mind remain attentive to Your Word, and my life become a living testimony of Your faithfulness. In the Mighty and Matchless Name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen and Amen!
Nugget ~ You cannot live yesterday again or borrow tomorrow in advance, but you can live faithfully in God’s Presence today. Do not allow what was or what might be to distract you from what God has entrusted to you right now. His Presence is in your present.
Blessings…
Love, Dr. Jean…
Have A Great Weekend…
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