Time Loop! - Bible Plan Verse #9

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ NLT)

Read it again.

So don’t worry about tomorrow. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Tomorrow will have its own worries. (‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭34‬ ERV)

WHAT STICKS OUT?

Tomorrow versus today

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

I enjoy the science fiction stories that break the boundaries of reality for the purpose of exposing a truth that otherwise we wouldn't see. That was the type of picture the Holy Spirit showed me for this verse.

>>>MAN TODAY<<<

"Hey! I built this time portal so I could see what happens tomorrow and plan for it."

Doesn't that sound great? You could catch any problem before it happens and be ready for it! You'd know to take your car to the shop before it even breaks down. You'd be able to study for that pop quiz. You'd never plan a picnic on a rainy day. But what is the cost?

>>>MAN TOMORROW<<<

"Hold on...This guy over here won't talk to me because he's looking into a time portal."

Wait? Is the man from tomorrow talking about himself? He's the one looking into a time portal and won't talk to the man from today. Actually the man from tomorrow is trying to talk to the man from the day after tomorrow, but that man is too busy looking into a time portal too. You can guess that this deadlock is happening every day in the future as well. Here's where we can clearly see a truth through science fiction that we struggle with in the real world. If you could see into the future just one day, would that satisfy your need to keep bad things from happen? No! Then you'd need to see a week into the future. Then you'd need to see a year into the future and so on indefinitely. So when you'd look into the future at yourself, all your future self would be doing is looking into the future too. More and more of your time would be spent trying to see into the future. Less and less time would actually be spent in the time God has given you right now. This is a self-destructive plan because it destroys its original purpose. The reason you want to know what will happen tomorrow is to improve your life today, but you're actually spending all your time looking at tomorrow and none of your time is spent actually doing what matters right now.

Can you see how this science fiction metaphor reveals the same truth about worry? Worrying about the future is like trying to look into a time portal. It may seem like focusing on tomorrow's problems is helping you plan for the long run, but most of the time you're actually distracting yourself from doing what you're supposed to do right now. Don't let regrets from the past or fears of the future stop you from living in this moment. God has forgiven your past, and God is in control of the future. You are only in control of what you do in this fraction of a second. Make it count by focusing on your time right now!

Author's Note: The Holy Spirit gave me the idea for this drawing while I was at work. I didn't have any supplies so I had to draw it on a Post-It note. Here's what it looked like.

He's got the itty bitty babies in His hands - Bible Plan Verse #8

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ NLT)

Read it again.

Don’t worry—I am with you. Don’t be afraid—I am your God. I will make you strong and help you. I will support you with my right hand that brings victory. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ERV)

WHAT STICKS OUT?

Victorious right hand!

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>>>THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD<<<

This idea reminds me of the children's song 'He's Got the Whole World in His Hands.' When I looked up Bible references to that song, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to see a reference just one chapter before this verse. Isaiah asks "Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?" (‭Isaiah‬ ‭40‬:‭12‬ NLT) The biggest hand represents God and His holding everything in His hand.

>>>THE RIGHT HAND OF JESUS<<<

Sometimes we forget the complexity of our God. He is three in one. So perhaps this right hand doesn’t just belong to God the Father. The Old Testament also uses the phrase "right hand of God" to refer to the coming Messiah wielding the power of God on earth. That makes me think of Jesus like God's enforcer. God made the plans, but it was Jesus that punched Satan in the face. Why is the Jesus fist punching a bird? Because I think of the bird as the primary enemy of the worm. Why the worm? We'll get to that in a second.

>>>THE RIGHT HAND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT<<<

Now in the New Testament we read that Jesus is sitting at God's right hand meaning He is in a position of authority equal to God, but also that His work is complete. So if Jesus is done (for now), who do we turn to? In Acts Jesus tells us that when He gets to His seat at the right hand of God, He will send the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit leads us, teaches us, and helps us through our day... perhaps with His right hand. The smallest hand is that of the Holy Spirit giving direction. It's small not because the Holy Spirit is limited in power, but because we as humans can only handle small things in comparison to God.

>>>A WORM NAMED JACOB<<<

This is a verse of empowerment...and it is not. That "victorious right hand" is not ours. The power of the Almighty God is working on the behalf of His people and we can take no credit for it. We are just little worms. I'm not saying that to belittle you. God said it four verses later. "Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don’t be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel." (‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭14‬ NLT) This is not a verse to pump you up to overcome your obstacles or accomplish your goals. This is a promise to those who are fully dependent on God. It's surprising how quickly I turn this verse to selfishly focus on me. Satan is twisting the truth about God's love for us to make it all about us. I think, "God is backing me so I can do anything!" We are being spiritually attacked when we believe we are the hero and God is just a power boost we need every so often. All Christians rightfully claim to be dependent on God, but ask yourself if your actions support your beliefs. So if we aren't supposed to be treating God like an energy drink you take once a day to help you be your best, how should we act with God's power but in complete dependence on God? The Holy Spirit told me that the solution is thankfulness. Live in power and humility by giving God the glory for any action in your life no matter how big or how small. Through you, God did it all.

Scary Trust - Bible Plan Verse #7

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ NLT)

Read it again.

Trust the Lord completely, and don’t depend on your own knowledge. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭5‬ ERV)

WHAT STICKS OUT?

Trust only in God

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>>>OVER PREPARED HIKER<<<

If you asked a bunch of Christians if they trust in God, I'd expect they would all say yes. But we're probably thinking on a grand scale like trusting God in your eternal salvation or that the sun will come up tomorrow. What about your daily life? How are you trusting in God just in this moment? Be specific to your life right now without using generalities that apply to all Christians.

If it takes a while to come up with an answer, that probably means you're only trusting God to keep the universe running. You believe God has an ultimate plan for you, but it's up to you to get through the day. Our daily trust is not in God but in what we know and plan. We develop a routine so we don't even have to think about it any more. Unfortunately that leaves no room for God to do anything outside of our plans for control. Our personal understanding of our surroundings becomes a protective bubble we use to prevent anything unexpected from happening. While we may prevent some bad things, we are also blocking a lot of good things too. It's like we carry an enormous backpack of contingency plans that slows us down. This pack is our insurance against our fears of what could happen when all we need is to pack for the one plan that matters: God's plan. If you truly believe God is for you then you don't need to over-pack. Do your actions show that you trust in God or yourself?

>>>FREE CLIMBER<<<

A free climber can't be weighed down by a hundred pounds of camping supplies and still scale a smooth mountain face. In the same way a Christian can't try to be in control of everything and still fully trust in God. If you've ever complained about not experience God in your life, perhaps you've never let Him do any of the planning. When you let Him take control He will take you places that you aren't prepared for, but that's how you develop that trust in God. Trust in God takes us higher and farther than what should be possible. What is happening in your life right now that can only be explained by the results of trusting in God?

Philippians 4:6 Flowchart - Bible Plan Verse #3

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ NLT)

Read it again.

Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have. (‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ERV)

WHAT STICKS OUT?

Worry versus Prayer

Don't worry. Pray happy!

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

>>> FLOWCHART <<<

Flowcharts visually map out a process. I see a lot of them at work and most times it helps me get a better handle on the path to solving a problem. This verse seems simple enough, but a flowchart helped me see the bigger picture.

>>> DIAMOND SHAPED BOX <<<

In a flowchart, a diamond shaped box represents a decision point. It's important to realize that every problem we face comes with a choice. And our choices reveal the answer to a deeper question. Who would you rather handle this problem: you or God?

>>> CHOOSING TO PRAY <<<

When I first started piecing together this flowchart, on the prayer-side of the chart, I wanted to add elements like "pray without ceasing" or "work together with God to solve the problem", but the Holy Spirit stopped me. There was no need to add anything to what God already said. So I kept the prayer-side simple with the only two things this verse says to do: tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.

>>> CHOOSING TO WORRY <<<

The worry-side is a stark contrast to the prayer-side. There is mass confusion and a constant push to do anything and everything to make the problem go away. I was surprised when the Holy Spirit showed me that the first step in worrying is planning. When a problem occurs, shouldn't we be working toward a solution? Yes, but too often our planning is how we try to take control of the situation without considering God's plan. That's not to say we should never plan anything, but you need to make you plans with God instead of by yourself.

>>> WHERE'S THE END? <<<

You may have realized that there is no end to this flowchart. It's just a continuous cycle. Sometimes you'll choose to pray. Other times you'll choose to worry. So you're probably asking yourself, "How am I supposed to solve these problems then if there is no end?" Too often we forget that God didn't ask us to be problem-solvers. He asked us to be Christ-followers. Stop trying to solve every problem. Just follow God.

Day 339

[Text from the image: "We just want to get to a better harbor for winter"
"Don't do it!"
"We can make it!" - "uh-oh"
Sometimes God asks you to stay when you think you should go]

Day 295

[Text from image: "Here's God's plan." - "But it's all backwards?" - "Actually, the world's plan is backwards. God created it to be this way."]

Day 124

[Text from image: Be strong and courageous and do the work]