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It is human nature to struggle with staying focused on the present. We often find ourselves looking ahead to the next thing we are anticipating or working toward. At other times, we dwell on something from the past—whether good or bad.

Because of this struggle, I made a clay wall hanging several years ago that says, "Happiness is not a goal. It is a way of life." More recently, I painted another sign that says, "Find joy in the journey." If you are anything like me and find it difficult to be fully present in the here and now, these reminders may be helpful to you as well.

Let's explore the importance of living in the present.

Acknowledge the Past

When we come to understand that we are sinners in need of God's grace and forgiveness, and acknowledge what Christ accomplished for us through His perfect life and sacrificial death in our place, we may be overwhelmed by the memory of our past sins and failures.

Acknowledging our sinfulness can be painful, but we must do so before we can see our need for God's forgiveness through Jesus' sacrifice. Recognizing our sin does not need to lead us to despair. Rather, it should drive us to the Lord and lead us to praise Him for His patience, mercy, and forgiveness.

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is based on a 12-Step program that participants work through in order to overcome addiction. Step 4 requires individuals to make a "searching and fearless moral inventory" of themselves. This involves honestly examining past behaviors, resentments, fears, and harmful actions in order to uncover the roots of destructive patterns and gain emotional clarity. It is a step where many people become stuck.

It is no wonder that AA requires belief in a "higher power." Facing the full extent of our failures would be devastating without the hope of forgiveness. Christians know that forgiveness is available through faith in Christ's perfect life and sacrificial death on our behalf.

But Don't Live in the Past

Many verses in Scripture highlight God's forgiveness, offering comfort, reassurance, and a reminder of His mercy as we reflect on our past sins and mistakes. Neither beating ourselves up over past failures nor denying them is helpful. Both responses are destructive. Instead, we should confess our sins to God, and as The Apostle John tells us in 1 John 1:9, we can obtain complete cleansing from our past sins.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Lamentations 3:22-23 tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. He never gets tired of us coming to Him and asking for forgiveness. He gives us a fresh start each day.

"Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." 

King David and the Apostle Paul are excellent examples of people who committed serious sins, repented, and were then used mightily by God. Their lives remind us that no one is beyond God's grace and redemption. To read more about David and Paul go to my article “God Can Forgive the Worst of Sinners”.

Don't Worry About the Future

In addition to letting go of the past, God wants us to stop worrying about the future. He calls us to trust Him to care for us through whatever lies ahead.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reminds us that God provides grace for today, not for all the troubles we imagine tomorrow may bring:

"So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 6:34 in the New Living Translation)

This requires us to trust God daily rather than trying to stockpile tomorrow's grace today. It brings to mind the well-known AA slogan: "One day at a time."

As a young girl, the author and holocaust survivor Corrie ten Boom once told her father that she did not think she would be brave enough to face death. Her father, Casper ten Boom, responded with an illustration she later shared in her speeches and writings.

"Corrie, when we go to Amsterdam, when do I give you your train ticket?"

"Just before we get on the train," she replied.

"Exactly. Our wise Father in heaven knows when we are going to need things, too. Don't run ahead of Him, Corrie. When the time comes, you will find the strength you need."

This truth is illustrated again in Acts 6–7 where Stephen faces martyrdom with remarkable courage and peace. It is also evident throughout church history. I am currently reading Foxe's Book of Martyrs, which recounts story after story of believers who endured persecution and death with extraordinary peace and confidence in Christ.

To learn more about this topic read my article “The Martyr Stephen”.

Such peace cannot be explained naturally. It is a gift from God. Through Christ, even humanity's greatest fear—death itself—loses its power.

Contentment Not Anxiety

Jesus taught that worry accomplishes nothing:

"And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" (Matthew 6:27)

You may have heard the saying, "Worry is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere." There is much truth in that statement.

I have known people who worry constantly. Their worrying never changes the outcome of events. Instead, it increases anxiety, damages relationships, and often contributes to physical health problems.

God does not want us endlessly waiting—either with excitement or dread—for what comes next. He wants us to enjoy Him in the present moment.

Paul provides a powerful example of this attitude in Philippians 4:11–13:

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

Contentment is not something that comes naturally. It is something we learn as we trust Christ. 

Gratitude for Today

Gratitude is another important aspect of living in the present. Instead of focusing on what we do not have or what we once had but have lost, we can choose to thank God for what He has given us today.

Psalm 118:24 reminds us:

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

In Philippians 4:8 Paul encourages believers to focus their minds on the blessings in our lives rather than the shortfalls. He says:

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

The author of Ecclesiastes also reminds us that enjoying God's gifts is itself a gift from God:

"When God gives someone wealth and possessions, and the ability to enjoy them, to accept their lot and be happy in their toil—this is a gift of God." (Ecclesiastes 5:19)

Through Christ, we can learn to be content, grateful, and at peace regardless of our circumstances.

Embracing the Present

God wants us to enjoy not only what is physically before us but also the season of life He has placed us in. He wants us to find joy in the journey.

While it is good to set goals and work toward them, we should not believe that happiness, contentment, or peace can only be found after those goals have been achieved.

One way to become more present is through mindfulness—the intentional practice of paying attention to the current moment. Rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, mindfulness encourages us to notice our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings with awareness and acceptance.

Life is made up of many different seasons. Sometimes we long for a previous stage of life, while at other times we eagerly anticipate a future one. Yet God calls us to appreciate the people around us and the season we are currently living in.

For example, when our children are young, the days may feel long and exhausting. Yet before we know it, those years seem to have passed in the blink of an eye. Learning to appreciate the present helps us avoid missing the blessings God has placed right in front of us.

Eternal life starts now

We see in God's Word that eternal life is not just a destination for the future; it is a spiritual reality and a personal relationship with God that begins the moment we put our faith in Christ. It is a present-tense possession and a radical transformation of everyday life. There are many verses that highlight the fact that eternal life starts right now. 

In John 5:24 Jesus highlights the immediate transition from spiritual death to life: 

"Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life." 

In the upper room just prior to His death, Jesus prays to the Father for his disciples and for us who would come after them. He makes clear that eternal life is not a location or a future state, but an intimate, active, and personal relationship with God today. In John 17:3 He states: 

"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." 

John 10:28 assures us of immediate, present-tense security:

"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." 

In Colossians 3:1-3 Paul reminds us that we already have eternal life, saying 

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God." 

In 1 John 5:13 John specifically emphasizes that present assurance of eternal life is meant to be known with certainty here and now. 

"I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." 

Today is The Day

Most importantly, we should not postpone our response to Jesus' call.

Today is the day to acknowledge our sin and place our faith in Christ's perfect life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection. When we do, we receive eternal life—not merely as a future promise, but as a present reality.

Through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can walk with God today, experiencing His guidance, peace, strength, and joy. Instead of being trapped by the past or consumed with worry about the future, we can live fully in the present, trusting the One who holds both our past and our future in His hands.

To learn more about beginning a relationship with Christ, see my article, “Today Is the Day”.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
   night after night they reveal knowledge.