Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“In the morning sow your seed, and at evening do not let your hands be idle; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.”
NL Daily Devotion for Saturday, August 12, 2023
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
“Chop wood, carry water.” It’s a phrase I hear often in my recovery community. At it’s heart, it means that we have this day only in which to do what is in front of us to do. We are responsible for the footwork, God is responsible for the outcome. We are freed to stay in the moment, following the daily disciplines of our lives, trusting fully in the promise that God has our back, and is with us no matter what.
My life can be incredibly (overly) full, and it can be easy to get overwhelmed when I begin to project into the future—even a day or two into the future, never mind the long term. This passages reminds me that I can be diligent about this day’s tasks and only this day’s tasks and that is enough. It can be easier said than felt, of course. I still find myself projecting (and panicking). But I can come back and back and back again to this in-the-moment awareness of what is mine to do right now, and what is God’s to do (which is everything.)
How do I stay in the moment when I am tempted to project into the future?
