Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow,
for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.
Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
– Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

“To live in the past is easy. To live in the present is like threading a needle.” These words by Walker Perry in his novel Lancelot are a great reminder of the importance of today. All too often our focus is dominated by the “what ifs” of yesterday and the “maybes” of tomorrow. To be great, athletic teams can’t allow that to happen. They must trust the process. Overcoming a negative culture is a challenge for even the most knowledgeable coach or gifted athlete. Those who have mastered the skill know the importance of today. If players and coaches aren’t satisfied with the results of the past, they must be committed to changing the process right now—TODAY! String together enough great todays and your future will look drastically different. Everyone wants the future product of wins, great players and championships. These results are more often achieved when coaches and athletes are intentional about following the process of getting better today. Successful coaches and athletes neither get stuck in the past nor daydream about the future. They trust the process. They go to work today.

All too often we fall into the trap of “what ifs” and “maybes” in our own lives. We hang on to the setbacks, disappointments, and pain of yesterday. If that weren’t enough, we agonize over the uncertainness of the future and become paralyzed by the fear of the unknown. Life is all about choices. If we want to let go of the hurts of the past and find peace with an unpredictable future, Jesus is the answer. When we choose Jesus, he begins to shape our choices in life. We learn to live in the present and to focus more on the daily experience. We come to understand that we are travelers on a magnificent journey. Heaven may be our destination, but there are many unimaginable stops along the way. Fellow travelers will challenge us, teach us, and share the journey with us. Each day is a process of becoming a little more like Jesus. We may not always know what today will bring, but we can trust he will guide us according to his purpose. Putting on the image of Christ is a process. Let’s get to work today!

Heavenly Father, you are the God of yesterday, today and tomorrow. Help me to value the gift of today and to cherish every moment it brings. Amen.