Give us this day our daily bread. Philippians 4:12-13

Being present is a popular theme in inspirational mantras. It sounds simple but being fully in the here-and-now doesn’t come naturally to most of us. Being present helps draw our focus into the realm of what we can control – our actions and awareness in this moment. It takes focus away from what we can’t control – the mistakes or “good old days” of yesterday and the worries or allure of tomorrow.

Jesus showed us how God wants us to live fully in today when he taught us to pray saying, “Give us, this day, our daily bread.” (Matthew 6:11) The Bible says that “Now, is the time of salvation, today is the day…”in the book of 2 Corinthians (2 Corinthians 6:2). And we’re urged to encourage one another today! (Hebrews 3:13)

Here are some practical things we can do to keep ourselves in the present moment:  1) Notice the sensations in your body by mentally scanning yourself from head to toe. This brings your focus from the cerebral to the physical. Consciously relax any areas that feel tense. 2) Celebrate progress. If you tend to be future-oriented, try writing a list of your accomplishments at the end of each day instead of a to-do list for tomorrow.

Finally, pray about everything. Let part of your inner dialogue be a running journal entry directed toward God. This aids us in awareness of our feelings and God’s presence. Philippians 4 tells us when to pray: in every situation, with thanksgiving and requests (Philippians 4:6).

 

Resource reading: Philippians 4:1-23