Today many have regrets about yesterday. Something that happened decades ago still looms large in the thinking of many people. The impact of yesterday can be quite large and exaggerated. Everyone has a past. All people have a story to tell of misfortune, hurt, and or heartbreak. Remember, your history should be a reference, not your residence. Indeed, our past shapes us, but it does not have to be the last word! Learn the lessons taught through both good and bad experiences. Do not become a prisoner of the past.

As much as we may see the past as a looming cloud hanging over our heads, we frequently view the future as something that will be great and fulfilling. The problem is in a few hours; tomorrow will become today. We are on a see-saw; on one side is the yesterdays, and on the other side are all of the tomorrows we are anticipating. So we go back and forth from being weighed down by the past and looking forward to a brighter, better future. Only one problem: today is all that is available!

Today, there are some who never really live or seize the day.   Often it is because many folks are either stuck in the past or fascinated with the future. What about today? What are you going to do with your today?

To get past your past will be determined in large part by what you do today. A fantastic future is determined by how you live and what you do today. Today is all that is promised. Tomorrow is always a day away. All that I have the power to impact or change is how I live today! The habits, routines, and attitudes I develop today will have a lasting impact and make my future much better.

What can I do today to impact my tomorrows?

  • Develop Routines. What do I value? What action, if taken today, will compound over time? You will need to discover what you love and what is important to you. Then you will need to incorporate routines that will enable you to accomplish and live your values and goals. If you say you want to be a growing Christian, your practice will need to include Bible reading, prayer, and worship. Routines will become our habits.
  • Habits. If you want to get out of debt, there are some habits you will need to develop. If you’re going to save for your children and their education, you will need to make it a regular practice, the same is true for retirement savings and many other things.
  • Take care of your health. Incorporate exercise and proper nutrition. 
  • Continual learning and growing. Are you reading and getting better incrementally? Is your default television? Reading and learning will multiply over the days of your life and compound in unbelievable ways, and your future can be quite different.

You will need to take stock of the type of person you want to be, and once you decide, start working diligently today. Most of us see where we are and where we would like to be and see the large gap and give up in discouragement. Do not give up! Just concentrate on winning today. You will not win every hour, all you need to do is win 3-4 hours every day, and you have won the day. 3-4 hours of concentrated work, and you will be one of the most productive people in the world. You do not win every minute of the day; just win enough.

Not every day is going to go as planned. There are days when you feel utterly unproductive. The good news? Tomorrow ended last night! Today is a new day. Just focus on now!

I leave you with a command and a promise from Jesus:

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:31-34)

Make today count!

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