Marie’s daily verse: Psalm 121:5
The Lord is your keeper, the Lord is your shade at your right hand.

DAILY DEVOTION, December 29, 2022

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring (Proverbs 27:1). Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes (James 4:12-14).

Both the Old and New Testaments remind us of an important truth. While we certainly may plan for the future, we dare not boast about it. The reason is simple. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Jesus once told a parable about a rich man who was ready to sit down and enjoy his riches. He did not realize that death would come to him the very next day. I have heard occasional stories about men who were planning to enjoy their retirement and on the very day of retirement, death came.

When I worked for the State of Illinois in the distant past my supervisor asked us to develop a five-year plan. He was not too happy with me when I told him my plan is to live one day at a time. Who knows what five years will bring?

It’s okay to plan for the future, but do so cautiously. Do not boast about what you are going to do tomorrow, or next week, or next year. Remember that each day you live may be your last. Be sure in your planning for the future you have done your spiritual planning. Live each day with faith in Jesus and tomorrow will be good.

Father, help me to realize how brief this earthly life is. James describes it as a mist which appears for a little while and is then gone. When I plan for the future, I want to plan for eternity. I thank You that through faith in Your Son, my future is secure. In His name, I pray, Amen.