Over and Over and Over

Today is Groundhog Day.  Each time I see the designation of this day on my At-A-Glance calendar, my mind takes me back to 1993.  In "Groundhog Day," the movie, Bill Murray played the character Phil.  Phil is a weatherman who is stuck - stuck in time.  The same day, for Phil, repeats over and over and over . . .

In this loop-of-a-day, Phil knows what each minute will bring - namely, just what it brought twenty-four hours before.  Phil and those around him are stuck.

Are you stuck?

What are you doing - day after day, over and over and over . . . that you would like to stop?  What elements of your life need to experience a shake up?  A decent burial? Yes 

We cannot re-live days.  But we can make changes, create new habits, and make tomorrow much different than today.  Jesus tells us to spend zero amount of time on worrying.

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Matthew 6:34 (NIV)
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Listen to Jesus.  Don't misunderstand Jesus.  Jesus counsels against worrying, not planning; He forbids fretting, not preparation.  Luke tells us in his record of the Gospel that . . .

Luke 2:52 (NIV)
. . .  Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Jesus wants us to grow in wisdom and stature as well.  We grow in wisdom as we listen, learn, practice, and do.  None of those actions happen if we refuse to plan, prepare, and think about tomorrow.

As you think about tomorrow, what needs to go?  Here are a few verses that may help you with overcoming those need-to-go items in your life.

1 Timothy 6:11-12 (NIV)
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NIV)
18 Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. 19 Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.

Ephesians 5:4 (NIV)
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:18 (NIV)
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

Ephesians 6:4 (NIV)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Anything catch your eyes (grab your heart) as you read?  Start with that one.

Make tomorrow better than today.  Have a good day after Groundhog Day.

#ordinarylives