{Be Devoted} Tomorrow Will Be Different

by Jessica Lauren

“Tomorrow is going to be different.”

Almost every night before bed that thought forms in my head. I’m going to get up in the wee hours of the morning, have my fresh cup of coffee & quiet time, write a spectacular blog post, knock out a five page paper, read a few chapters in my latest book, exercise, eat healthy, clean my desk, be involved with my family, text some friends a bible verse, edit my latest session, submit my most recent wedding, have a great hair day, run some errands, share Christ with someone, memorize a verse, redo my website, ship that package, go to bible study, and get to bed at a decent hour!

And let’s be real, it never happens. Partly because my list is a tad ambitious, but also because I just can’t do it myself. I was watching a video at church last night and it hit me – I can’t do this. I can’t be the perfect friend, the perfect blogger, the perfect photographer, and fill every spot and do every thing. I can’t be the woman that God has called me to be on my own. I don’t have the power to do each of those jobs, it just won’t happen. The only way I can do what God has perfectly ordained me to do as His daughter is by His strength.

Where did I ever get the idea that I could do this life stuff on my own?

When did everything transition from God’s ideal day to my ideal day?

It’s a battle, girls! It’s a battle to let go of our own ambitions and perfectly compartmentalized plans and let HIM take over. Because here’s the thing – nothing on my to do list is bad. But none of those things will happen according to His will without His power. I will constantly fail and fall short. I will run dry and get weary. But He never stops. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak! Our God is faithful in every single circumstance, and that includes the everyday things. Every waking moment is a battle to let go of self and let Jesus step in. Unless we are aware of that battle, we absolutely can’t fight it! Satan will win every time. He will steal away our time that is so very precious and waste away our days that we could spend serving our Jesus.

Paul writes in Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT), “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”

It was even a struggle 2,000 years ago! Paul is saying, hey, I know the struggle! You need to examine yourself – look carefully at how you are living, how you are walking every single day. Don’t waste your time trying to do what YOU think is best on your own. Verse 17 goes on to say, “Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.”

It’s not about us. It’s not about our ambitions and our plans. It’s all about Him. Let’s make that our ambition every morning; to surrender our days to Him and make the most of every opportunity He has given us! Let’s make tomorrow different.