153. How to Stay Present When the Future Distracts You

by | Jul 9, 2024 | Podcast

Does the future distract you? Last week we began a series regarding the top five distractions we women struggle with on any given day. I call these the Big 5. I share them in detail in Chapter 5 of my book Right Now Matters. Last week we touched on the first one–the past. Today we’re discussing the future. We think about the future every now and then, but what happens when we get so fixated on it that we get stuck there? What can we do when the future distracts us from the present?

How to Stay Present When the Future Distracts You | woman facing sunset and a body of water sitting on a rock

Like the distraction of the past, the distraction of the future can rob us of the moment we’re in. God desires us to live in the present. Not the past and not the future, but right now. Because that’s where He is. He’s with us now. Yes, He was with us in the past and His Word promises He will be with us in the future, but right now, this moment, is where He is. There’s no better time than right now.

When we borrow from the future, we miss what God is doing right now. We miss His blessings, the hope, the people in our lives, the joy, the experiences of right now, and so much more. Friend, these are priceless gifts we will never receive again in this moment. This is one big reason why right now matters.

When the future invades and consumes our thoughts, it keeps us from living the abundant lives Jesus came to give us today.

Focusing on the future distracts us from the present.

This likely happens more than we realize. Just like with the past, the distraction of the future can originate from either a positive perspective or a negative one. We dig into both the excitement of the future and the dread of it. We experience both, and both entice us away from right now.

I share four Scriptures that highlight how God desires for us to live in the present and not the future or the past, and what we can do to overcome when the future distracts us.

Click on the player above to listen to the 13-minute episode.

If we’re not careful, we’ll miss this moment all together.

God has a better way to live. He has the future all planned out. It’s His to handle. God is with us in the present. Let’s stay with Him here. One day at a time, one moment at a time. This moment is too important to miss. Thanks for being here today, friend. God bless you!

Links in this episode:

Encouragement for Real Life Podcast, Episode 153, How to Stay Present When the Future Distracts You
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Julie Lefebure
How to Stay Present When the Future Distracts You | woman facing sunset and a body of water sitting on a rock
Encouragement for Real Life Podcast, Episode 153, How to Stay Present When the Future Distracts You
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