"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is God's gift to you, that's why it's called the present."

I don't know the origin of that saying, but there is some value in considering it.  Too often I have lived my life looking to the future - planning, looking, figuring out what happens next - all the while simply enduring the present and hoping that it will get better.  There certainly is a role for planning and looking ahead but with a healthy dose of James 4:15 and reliance on God and not only the work of our hands.  Certainly planning should not come at the expense of enjoying the present. 

On the other hand, many people spend life looking at the past - living it over and over again, painful words, hurtful actions, past abuse or relationship problems or mistakes - pick your poison.  And all that past comes rushing into the present - shaping it, molding it - or more accurately - distorting it.  God has given us things to deal with the past:  prayer, forgiveness both from him and to those who hurt us, confession - both to him and to those whom we have hurt.  The past is like the Smithsonian Institute.  It's a great place to learn from but you don't want to live there. 

Through the gospel, Jesus has freed us from the slavery of our past AND freed us from the burden of getting things just right for the future.  He has invited us who are weak and heavy burdened to come to him and find rest but also to learn from him - for his way is easy and his burden is light.  I believe that with all my heart.  Not that there won't be struggle, but in following Him - consciously following Him - I know that the struggle and even the bad things that happen will be redeemed by God for His glory because His way is good and there is no evil in Him.

Today is a gift.  Put another way:  "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24).  Lord teach us all to trust in your word and teach us how to live in the present.  Amen.