Now!

I've been trying to be more mindful - aware of and being really present each moment of my day. I've actually found it to be quite an effort because I've been realizing how much of the time I am doing one thing but thinking about the next task on the list instead of fully focusing on that thing I'm doing. The same is true of conversations. Instead of really listening to what is being said, many times I find myself busy formulating my response - before they've even finished their thought!

In making the effort to remain focused moment by moment a thought occurred to me. Faith is actually a kind of mindfulness. Think about it. Hebrews 11:1 tells us NOW faith is. Faith necessarily requires that we believe we receive what we ask for - now. Faith says: I have it NOW. Faith is present tense - not future and not past. God Himself says, I AM. Not I was or I will be. He is right here, right now. Time as we know it doesn't exist for Him. He sees the end from the beginning and calls us to do the same thing.

Now is all we really have. We can put something off into the future and say we'll do or have it "tomorrow." But there is no tomorrow because every day becomes today! There's certainly no harm in planning for the future, setting goals. Those are actually very good things that give our lives structure.

I just think rather than focusing my energies on why something failed (looking back) or constantly reaching for what may happen someday (looking ahead), I am better served by simply being fully present right here where I am, right now. Perhaps that's what "walking by faith" means. I don't have to "see" what I am believing for. I don't have to see the change. Before any perceptible change happens in the natural, physical world, I count it done and go on!

Now. That's faith.