Living In This Moment

Jan 20, 2025
6 min read

“Living in THIS moment.” Is it wrong to live in the moment we are in? Some would say that this is a great perspective, and some would beg to differ. What does “Living in THIS moment” really mean and what does the Bible say about that thought? Let me begin by saying I fall somewhere between living in the moment and planning for the future. I am 100% in whatever I am doing, who I am with, and where we are. If you have ever traveled with me, you know!!!! Once on a mission trip to Israel, we stopped at a roadside restaurant. One of my dreams was to ride a camel in Israel. We had been talking about finding an opportunity when God placed camel rides in the parking lot of the restaurant that we were stopping at. Sweet sisters - they let me off the bus first (or maybe I ran past everyone on the bus) and I bolted for the camel and hopped on. Nope, I didn’t ask the price and NO, I didn’t have a red cent of cash in my pocket. WHAT WAS I THINKING??? I was totally caught up in that moment. Thank goodness God had made provision for my impulse by having a good friend (Scott) who graciously paid the man for my camel ride. Let me just say there are times that I relive that moment and still find MUCH joy in it. Perhaps I should have had a little more restraint and worked on not getting so excited in the moment, but I truly believe that if we are not participating in something sinful or something that will hurt someone else, God wants us to live in the moment we are in.

Throughout my blog (and my life) I try to search scripture to guide my thoughts and decisions. Below are some scriptures regarding our time and how we should live. I do believe there is a balance in preparing for the future as well as enjoying the blessings and challenges that God gives us in every moment of our lives. As Christians, we should strive to trust God and focus on the present, not focusing on concerns of the past or future. Matthew chapter 6 is a great chapter to live our lives by and verse 34 says, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” At the same time, Ecclesiastes 7:10 says, "Do not say, 'Why is it that the former days were better than these?' For it is not from wisdom that you ask about this.” It is great to have memories and moments to reflect back on. It is wonderful to plan for the future: investing, building, and dreaming. But the most important place to focus our hearts is in the moment and where God has placed us currently. James 4:14 reiterates this in stressing to us that our life is a vapor and we should not worry about tomorrow. We should TRUST in God for TODAY, invest what He has given us THIS day, and TRUST in Him fully for tomorrow.

It is all well and good to say we are not looking back with much regret or living holding onto past moments. How do we plan for the future without living with too much focus on the future? Here are some scriptures and thoughts to assist us as we try to live our lives with a Godly focus for TODAY.

Maintain a Heavenly Perspective: Paul imparted numerous lessons through his life and writings, one of which was to remain faithful to God, whether in this life on earth or in heaven with Christ. In Philippians 1:21, Paul stated, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” During his time on earth, Paul was dedicated to his Heavenly Father’s work, yet he also eagerly anticipated the day he would join Christ in heaven. Sister, when we can genuinely echo Paul’s sentiment, our priorities will naturally align. Yes, as we live on earth, we should witness, plant seeds, and nurture growth in ourselves and others, finding great joy in doing so. Oh, what joy there is as we revel in God’s love, acknowledging His provisions here while also knowing that one day we will exchange this weary world for a heavenly existence. What a treasure to look forward to. Like Paul, we must work and live as if Christ is coming today to take us to heaven as we look forward and anticipate that glorious day!
Trust God: Proverbs 3:5-6 is an excellent verse to start our day with, praying that as we place our trust in God, He WILL guide our paths. Include this verse in your morning prayer before getting out of bed. It helps us let go of the need to control our day's events and strengthens our reliance on God to fulfill His will in our lives as we journey on the paths He has set for us. As Jeremiah 29:11 states, God already has a perfect plan for us; we just need to trust and follow Him. This can be challenging for us, so pausing throughout the day to recite and pray this verse again might be beneficial.
Don’t Be Afraid: Sister, this is the thing - NOTHING and I say NOTHING that will happen to you, or your family will surprise God today! There is absolutely no reason to fear other than if we are allowing Satan and sin to have a say in our lives. Isaiah 4:10 tells us not to be afraid or discouraged because God will strengthen and help us. He holds us up in His “victorious right hand.” WHAT A THOUGHT! What a FACT!! What a TRUTH!!! Do you really believe this? Do you truly believe that God holds us up in His victorious hand? Lord, help our unbelief. This verse is a wonderful reminder that God is present and strengthening us in every single moment and circumstance each day. We are never alone.
Make Every Opportunity Count: Ephesians 5:15-16 encourages us to be careful how we live. We are not to live like fools, but as the wise live, making the most of every moment in these evil days. As you pray Prov. 3:5-6, ask God to help you to live intentionally and wisely, making the most of THIS day that He has given you. Read Colossians 4:5 also.
Rest, Find Joy in Him, and Stay Committed: Don't give up! Work diligently as if everything depends on you, making every moment matter, and then entrust the rest to God’s mighty hands. Do your best and then rest in His provision. Even on challenging days, we can find peace knowing that God will bring the harvest in His time. Galatians 6:9 is a wonderful verse of encouragement, urging us never to give up. Ecclesiastes 9:10 reminds us to perform all our tasks well until God calls us home. God is our source of hope, and we can rest assured that our joy comes from Him (Rom 15:13). Nehemiah 8:10 and Psalm 30:5 remind us that our joy comes from God and strengthens us. Sister, it's okay to feel tired—we should take time to rest in Him. God rested after His marvelous creation. Jesus took time to rest. Rest is important. No matter the trials we face here, we can find rest and joy in knowing that God has a perfect plan for each of us and He is guiding our lives. Sometimes we just need to take time to bask in His love and goodness. Delight in the goodness of God, finding our joy in knowing Him and understanding that nothing in this life is a surprise to Him or His plan for us.

I hope you take time to review and look up the scriptures mentioned in this post. Please take time to read through the additional scriptures below. They are such sweet scriptures!

Verses to Meditate On: Galatians 2:20; Romans 8:18; Psalm 32:8; Philippians 1:6; Col 4:5; and Ecclesiastes 9:10