Counselor'r Corner: Living in the Present

How many of us, if we are honest, live stressed-out and anxious/worried about tomorrow? If you answered yes to that question, you are not alone. When we live our lives projecting tomorrow’s outcomes we forfeit the grace God supplies to us daily, not in lump sums. How many of us try and store God’s grace for us? We believe with enough planning and control we can predict outcomes as well as secure our future. But we could not be more wrong. How many of us have tried to get a close handle on our lives by predicting the outcomes of our lives. We try and analyze and figure-out every possible outcome and situation until we become exhausted and frustrated. Life happens and we cannot live on tomorrow’s provisions for today.

Reflect and ponder: Do you live in the present or do you live in the past and in the future? What causes you not to live in the present moment?

Living in the past or projecting the future will cause stress, anxiety, worry, fear, fatigue and possible illness. Some of us try and live in the past because we have not “settled” our past or properly let-go and healed our hurts as well as past failures.

Some of us try and figure out future outcomes because we live in fear and at the root of that fear is a lack of trust in God.

We might say we trust God but deep down where no one else can see, we felt we have been let down by God, forgotten by Him, or discouraged in the waiting process. So we take matters into our own hands because we feel God has not come through for us. We don’t want to admit this because we might look bad or maybe others may not think we are really Christians, or for that matter even love God. At times the control and trust waxes and wanes but underneath it all, I have struggled to make sense of some very difficult matters in my own life. I hope I am not alone in this. I have prayed for certain things, people, and desires for years and sometimes they have become worse, and other times it is a slow trickle to the desired outcome I want, and then there are those prayers and cries that seem to go unnoticed. I said seem to go unnoticed, because do our prayers really go unnoticed or is it not the time or maybe something that would not be in our best interest? I have so many questions, I am sure like you that I don’t know the answers to. Such as the inability to have children, desiring to be married, sickness of a child/family member, health issues, or even the pain a parent feels for their prodigal child.

I projected my future because I lived in fear. Fear of the unknown, fear things will not get better, fear that it will always be this way. Fear causes you to think and behave irrationally. Life seemed uncertain and unpredictable to me so I had to take over and mange my life.

Taking life as it comes and living in the present day is a great way to allow your fears to take a backseat. Living in the past will also cause you great stress, so being and living in the day you have is very healing. Why be anxious for the things you truly do not know will or won’t happen, or why live in regret and past failures? This is not easy to do if you have tried to control your life or try and project possible outcomes of your future. This will not be easy, but let’s start with surrendering. Surrendering all forms of control, figuring-out, analyzing, and living in past regrets. This also entails trusting God with your life and the lives of others you love. This step requires faith and letting-go.

If you live one day at a time, God will supply you the grace you need for that day, to handle the problems and situations that happen that day. However, you can’t take today’s grace and store it for tomorrow. God supplies what you need for that day, not on yesterday or tomorrow. Think about how stress-free you will feel when you live in the present.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34, NIV

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34, Message

Daily Encouragement: Counselor’s Corner

January 24, 2017

by: Stephanie R. Reck, LMSW, LBT, BCCC

Take It One Day at a Time

Take it one day a time, one moment at a time. Don’t project too far ahead, and begin guessing what may or could happen in the future. Take life as it comes-one step at a time.

Reflect and ponder: What in your life causes you to jump ahead and start figuring out how possibly things may turn out? Difficulty trusting God, fear that the outcome won’t be what you had hoped for, or perhaps you want to be in control of a situation because it makes you feel more secure. What if God wants you to let go of all your perceived outcomes to situations and to surrender all the unknowns to Him? How would your life be different?

Counselor’s advice: Thinking too far ahead can cause you to be anxious, worried, and even fearful. We were never meant to use up tomorrow’s grace on today-God’s grace is sufficient for the day, not stored up. We feel more in control if we can predict the outcomes of our lives, but the reality is we are not supposed to know every detail of how things will turn out for ourselves. God wants us to fully trust Him with all the unknowns in life, and then we can enter into His rest, care and peace. We can only trust Jesus when we truly understand that He is for us, and He eventually does work out all things out for our good (Romans 8:28).

FACT: 85% of what we worry about never happens and 15% of what does happen, we can handle better than we thought we could. So, why worry about tomorrow? How do we know what may happen.

MEDITATE ON THESE SCRIPTURES:

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow, God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34, MSG

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad. Proverbs 12:25

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Going Through Transitions Effectively

Adjustments and major transitions can be difficult, especially if you have problems with control. If something changes and you have an issue with control you can be easily side-swiped. It is important to take it one day at a time. You can’t say you will go here or do this tomorrow for certain because you do not know what will happen. When we have to make adjustments and transitions they will go a lot smoother if we realize that we have to hold our plans loosely and be ready for change.

A definition from Wikipedia.com for adjustment is regulating, adapting or settling in a variety of contexts. If you are not able to adjust easily to transitions and changes it will create disequilibrium and unbalance in your mind, body, and spirit. You will begin to feel stress in all of these areas. When an adjustment needs to be made, in the beginning you may feel some stress, but then you need to enter into the flow of the Spirit of God. That means seizing all control and outcomes of the situation and trusting that God has a plan and He will work it out for you good. It means stop trying to figure out why and instead remaining calm and peaceful. Sometimes adjustment periods can take a while to work out. For instance if you have a step family, or your teenage daughter is pregnant and needs help, or even divorce. All are considered a crisis and all can pose a threat to our well-being. Under stress our bodies will either fight or flight, that means stay and fight or run away. Fight or flight is usually seen in stressful or threatening circumstances. There may be a time to run, but from what I know of God He does not want us to stay running He wants us to rest and then get up and fight.

Taking it one day at a time is the only way to stay and fight in your situation of transition. If you decide to stay and fight you cannot project tomorrow’s fears and concerns. God gives you grace for each day, not stored up grace. So if you are living out on tomorrow’s grace, you will not survive the adjustment and transition period.

With any adjustment or major transition, eventually you will adapt and begin to learn new coping skills. It is amazing how God created us to cope and adapt in the most stressful of situations. So no matter what you are adjusting to, know that it is not permanent. Get up today, stop wallowing and having pity parties and say, “This too shall pass.” Nothing in life is ever permanent. As the seasons change, so does our lives. There is a season for everything. Though it may be painful and dark today, tomorrow is new and full of possibilities.

Rest in your adjustments and transitions. Hasah, is Hebrew for trust. It means taking refuge in God. Batah, means to have confidence in.

Hasah Batah, Trust, take refuge and have confidence in God.

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today, at the latest, tomorrow, we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.”

James 4:13-15, Message

Live in the Moment

How many of us live in the regrets of the past, or in the future we are projecting? Imagine living in the moment, not going back and not going forward. Just enjoying each moment as it comes, and not allowing the unknown of the future to steal our own joy today. I believe if we can live in the moment, we could experience peace, calmness, joy, and find contentment.

Excerpts taken from my book, “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin,” Chapter 7: Don’t look back, keep going forward: One day at a time.

           

God tells us not to worry about anything. Today is ALL you have. The things that you go through are temporary. It is how you react to them that can cause you to lose your joy and peace.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly, things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you have learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:4-9, MSG

God wants us to come to Him with our worries and struggles. We are not to try and figure things out, analyze everything or worry. God wants us to enjoy right where we are. Don’t worry about the past or future, take hold of today. Embrace today; take it one day at a time. If something in your life has not worked out, then God has a new plan. Don’t waste any more time regretting the past or what lies ahead. That kind of thinking will lead to anxiousness and fear. Living one day at a time, and one moment at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry. Choose to give your anxieties to God, choose to pray specifically for things instead of worrying.

When we begin to think about tomorrow and the “what if’s,” we can lose our grace for today. God gives us His “manna” daily, not weekly or monthly. Don’t be consumed with yesterday’s junk and tomorrow’s what ifs. Don’t dwell on yesterday. Dwelling means focusing on what you should have done, what you could have done and what you ought to have done. Take it one step at a time, one day at t a time.

Sometimes we think we need to see the end of our path, maybe so we can be reassured it’s a good path. But God’s guidance is step by step. We can rest and trust God will light our path, one step at a time. Whatever comes your way, know you can handle it, one day at a time. Don’t “stockpile” tomorrow’s provisions for your life. Face your challenges one day at a time. Looking too far down the road tends to overwhelm us in our thinking. Trusting God requires we believe He gives us our “daily bread.”

Live in peace and not anxiousness and fear of the unknown. Do you really know what is going to happen? I mean really? We can formulate what we think will happen, but that is called worry. Yesterday may have been troubling, but shake it off today. Remember today is a brand new day.

Enjoy your journey as it unfolds, and take life as it comes. Don’t project what you think may happen, and don’t stay bound to your past. Stay present in the moment.

·        To order a copy of my book, “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’ go to www.createspace.com/4036785

One Day at a Time

Take it one day at a time. If you are living in the past full of regrets or in the future, you are not at peace. God’s grace is sufficient for you today only. That means He will not give you yesterday’s grace or tomorrow’s grace. Living in the past or future cause’s anxiousness and feelings of being overwhelmed. Did you know that 90% of what we worry about never happens? That’s right most of what we worry about never happens. So why dwell on things that probably will never happen? Do you want peace? Then follow the command of the Lord, Jesus: “So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34, NKJV.

“And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure to his stature or to the span of his life.” Matthew 6:27, NKJV.

So take it one day at a time. This “season” that you’re in will not last forever. What would you do if you had only today? How would you live differently?

Live in the Moment

How many of us live in the regrets of the past, or in the future we are projecting? Imagine living in the moment, not going back and not going forward. Just enjoying each moment as it comes, and not allowing the unknown of the future to steal our own joy today. I believe if we can live in the moment, we could experience peace, calmness, joy, and find contentment.

Excerpts taken from my book, “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin,” Chapter 7: Don’t look back, keep going forward: One day at a time.

           

God tells us not to worry about anything. Today is ALL you have. The things that you go through are temporary. It is how you react to them that can cause you to lose your joy and peace.

Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things that are true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious-the best not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly, things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you have learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into His most excellent harmonies. Philippians 4:4-9, MSG

God wants us to come to Him with our worries and struggles. We are not to try and figure things out, analyze everything or worry. God wants us to enjoy right where we are. Don’t worry about the past or future, take hold of today. Embrace today; take it one day at a time. If something in your life has not worked out, then God has a new plan. Don’t waste any more time regretting the past or what lies ahead. That kind of thinking will lead to anxiousness and fear. Living one day at a time, and one moment at a time keeps us from being consumed with worry. Choose to give your anxieties to God, choose to pray specifically for things instead of worrying.

When we begin to think about tomorrow and the “what if’s,” we can lose our grace for today. God gives us His “manna” daily, not weekly or monthly. Don’t be consumed with yesterday’s junk and tomorrow’s what ifs. Don’t dwell on yesterday. Dwelling means focusing on what you should have done, what you could have done and what you ought to have done. Take it one step at a time, one day at t a time.

Sometimes we think we need to see the end of our path, maybe so we can be reassured it’s a good path. But God’s guidance is step by step. We can rest and trust God will light our path, one step at a time. Whatever comes your way, know you can handle it, one day at a time. Don’t “stockpile” tomorrow’s provisions for your life. Face your challenges one day at a time. Looking too far down the road tends to overwhelm us in our thinking. Trusting God requires we believe He gives us our “daily bread.”

Live in peace and not anxiousness and fear of the unknown. Do you really know what is going to happen? I mean really? We can formulate what we think will happen, but that is called worry. Yesterday may have been troubling, but shake it off today. Remember today is a brand new day.

Enjoy your journey as it unfolds, and take life as it comes. Don’t project what you think may happen, and don’t stay bound to your past. Stay present in the moment.

·      To order a copy of my book, “Wilderness Mentality, Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin’ go to: www.createspace.com/4036785

Living in the Present, Taking it One Day at a Time

How many of us, if we are honest, live stressed-out and anxious/worried about tomorrow? If you answered yes to that question, you are not alone. When we live our lives projecting tomorrow’s outcomes we forfeit the grace God supplies to us daily, not in lump sums. How many of us try and store God’s grace for us? We believe with enough planning and control we can predict outcomes as well as secure our future. But we could not be more wrong. How many of us have tried to get a close handle on our lives by predicting the outcomes of our lives. We try and analyze and figure-out every possible outcome and situation until we become exhausted and frustrated. Life happens and we cannot live on tomorrow’s provisions for today.

Living in the past or projecting the future will cause stress, anxiety, worry, fear, fatigue and possible illness. Some of us try and live in the past because we have not “settled” our past or properly let-go and healed our hurts as well as past failures. Some of us try and figure out future outcomes because we live in fear and at the root of that fear is a lack of trust in God. We might say we trust God but deep down where no one else can see, we felt we have been let down by God, forgotten by Him, or discouraged in the waiting process. So we take matters into our own hands because we feel God has not come through for us. We don’t want to admit this because we might look bad or maybe others may not think we are really Christians, or for that matter even love God. I will be the first to say that I love God, the Father, His Son and the Holy Spirit and I am a born-again believer but I have struggled in this area of control and trust. At times the control and trust waxes and wanes but underneath it all, I have struggled to make sense of some very difficult matters in my life. I hope I am not alone in this. I have prayed for certain things, people, and desires for years and sometimes they have become worse, and other times it is a slow trickle to the desired outcome I want, and then there are those prayers and cries that seem to go unnoticed. I said seemed to go unnoticed, because do our prayers really go unnoticed or is it not the time or maybe something that would not be in our best interest? I have so many questions, I am sure like you that I don’t know the answers to. Such as the inability to have children, desiring to be married, sickness of a child/family member, health issues, or even the pain a parent feels for their prodigal child. I have felt many of these personally and I can say for me that is why I developed a need to be in control, secure my future, and to analyze my life because nothing seemed to be in control, so I took control. I projected my future because I lived in fear. Fear of the unknown, fear things will not get better, fear that it will always be this way. Fear causes you to think and behave irrationally. Life seemed uncertain and unpredictable to me so I had to take over and mange my life.

Taking life as it comes and living in the present day is a great way to allow your fears to take a backseat. Living in the past will also cause you great stress, so being and living in the day you have is very healing. Why be anxious for the things you truly do not know will or won’t happen, or why live in regret and past failures? This is not easy to do if you have tried to control your life or try and project possible outcomes of your future. This will not be easy, but let’s start with surrendering. Surrendering all forms of control, figuring-out, analyzing, and living in past regrets. This also entails trusting God with your life and the lives of others you love. This step requires faith and letting-go.

If you live one day at a time, God will supply you the grace you need for that day, to handle the problems and situations that happen that day. However, you can’t take today’s grace and store it for tomorrow. God supplies what you need for that day, not on yesterday or tomorrow. Think about how stress-free you will feel when you live in the present.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:34, NIV

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:34, Message

Additional resources from author:

Online Christian Counseling: www.gospelguidance.com/adviors/5311-sreck

Natural herbal remedies for treating depression, anxiety, etc. Go to my website@ www.christianhopecounseling.com

And click on Native Remedies link.

Trouble with negative thinking? Check out my book, Wilderness Mentality Stop Your Stinkin’ Thinkin @www.createspace.com/4036785