Of all the lessons I’ve learned over the past four years in my journey toward rest and life balance, “being present” and “living in the present” have been the most difficult and challenging. Weather it’s remaining engaged and present during a meeting with leadership or staff members at work, a conversation with my wife, one of my children, a friend, or listening to a sermon or engaging in worship time at church, being and staying present has been a struggle.

There are multiple factors that contribute to the difficulty of “living in the present”. A major source that contributes to not being present is the distractions that are always vying for our attention. We are on sensory overload. Social media, the internet, Email notifications, the dinging of our phones, the speed that we live life at, not taking time to slow down and pursue an unhurried life. Traffic, lack of silence and constant sound and noise. These external distractions have diminished our attention span and ability to focus and stay focused.

Internal factors that prevent us from being present include dwelling on or worrying about the past or the future. The continuous mental chatter going on in my mind is very hard to shut down. Bills to pay, things to do, people to deal with, those challenging relationships, doubt, is my job secure, is the economy going to tank, the safety of our families. Then there are those accusing voices, the enemy of our souls whispering lies into my ears.

I believe the key to living in the present and being present is TRUST. Am I going to trust an all knowing, all present, all powerful, sovereign God with my total being? Do I trust Him with my past? Do I trust Him for the future? Do I trust Him with my family, job, and the day-to-day cares of life? DO I TRUST HIM?

Psalm 37:1-8 is a great antidote that addresses fretting, worry and trust and can remedy much of what keeps us from being and living in the present. Verse 1 says, “Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.”  As you read these verses four words and actions jump out at us – trust, delight, commit, and rest. “Trust in the Lord and do good. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.” “Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

And in James it says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

To overcome the mental distractions of being present, 2nd Corinthians 10:3-5 says, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.”

And finally, the psalmist in Psalm 46:10 says,” Be still and know that I am God” (It literally means cease striving and know that I am God).

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