Turning Off Tomorrow

Have you ever been on vacation with someone who doesn’t know how to enjoy the vacation? 

You know who I’m talking about…

They bring work with them, sneaking in a few emails here and there. They can’t quite put the to do list away, adding items in their notes app while sitting on the beach. They continually talk about the diet and work out regimen they’re going on when they get home, because they’re always going to be more “hard core” next week. They talk about the future, planning the next vacation before the one they’re on ends. 

MEH. That’s how those people make you feel…You love them, but could they please just enjoy the moment?!?

I was that person—so, very, very guilty of being that person. 

A little over a year ago, I found myself constantly checked out with my girls. I was physically with them, but my mind and heart were somewhere else. 

I found that my thoughts seemed to continually be in my tomorrow, next month or even next year. I found that I was living more into my future than my today. 

And the startling truth… making plans for the future was a cover up for a deep root of discontentment.

When I began to realize how I was thinking, which ultimately shaped how I was living, I found more than a passion for planning. I found that if I had no guarantee for my future plans and dreams, I was disappointed with my today. And, I was disappointed because of unmet expectations. 

[OUCH]

These unmet expectations created discontentment, which created worry and fear. This worry and fear led to constantly looking toward the future…creating goals, vision casting, and striving to make sure I was setting myself up for what I wanted in life. I was trying to create a detour around disappointment, but missing the incredible life I’d already been given. 

When I truly had the revelation of how I was living, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said,

“TURN OFF TOMORROW.”

3 simple words. But, they have changed my life. 

*Turn off the questions you can’t answer. 

*Turn off the work you don’t have grace to carry. 

*Turn off the worry, fear, and anxiety created by your own striving. 

*Turn off the expectations that aren’t for this season. 

*Turn off the grasping for dreams meant for the future. 

Turned off doesn’t mean dead and gone. It just means its not for today. 

Making plans for the future is great, but not at the expense of missing today. 

Today, right now, holds something that no other day can hold. It holds the potential for memories and moments that tomorrow won’t bring. It offers lessons and instruction that may not come again. It offers grace, strength, and wisdom in exact proportion to what you need—today. 

Jesus instructed us to pray, “Give us this day…” Because this day is what we’ve been given. 

I still have dreams and visions for my life. I still write down goals, make to do list, and even tend sneak work on vacation [still working on it]! But, I’m learning to turn off tomorrow. I’m learning to live here and now. 

So—make your plans for the future, but live fully into the purpose of today.