Daily Devotional ✝️

“When the Mind Runs Ahead” 🕊

Bible Passage..

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

We all know the experience of a racing mind! Like rehearsing conversations, imagining worst case scenarios, or planning every possible outcome. It can feel exhausting, as though the mind refuses to rest. Jesus’ words in Matthew’s Gospel offer a gentle corrective, not as a command to “just stop worrying”, but as an invitation to live fully in the present moment.. the only place where grace can reach us.

In Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), this process of redirecting attention is sometimes called thought defusion. We learn to notice when the mind has run ahead into “what ifs” and to name those thoughts as just that, thoughts, not facts. You might say to yourself, “I’m having the thought that tomorrow will be difficult” rather than “Tomorrow will be terrible.” That small shift loosens the hold of worry and helps you reconnect with what’s real and immediate.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) takes this a step further, encouraging us to anchor in our values. Rather than fighting every anxious thought, we can ask, “What matters most to me right now?” and take one small action in that direction. It could be making a cup of tea, calling a friend, or pausing to breathe deeply. These simple acts, grounded in presence and purpose, help restore balance.

Spiritually, this echoes the life of faith. God does not ask us to control tomorrow, only to trust that He will meet us there. Worry drains today’s strength to pay for a future we do not yet live. Trust gives today back its light. When you notice anxiety building, picture laying your concerns in God’s hands. Not to ignore them, but to release their weight. In that quiet handover, you might find room again for peace, curiosity, and hope.

Whatever your walk of life, these words are for you. Whether you’re caring for others, carrying work pressures, or simply trying to find your footing in uncertain times, you are not asked to face everything at once. You are asked only to walk with God in the moment you’re in, and He walks with you there.

Reflection..

1. What worries tend to pull your attention into the future?

2. What small grounding action could help you return to the present moment today?

3. How might you practise handing your concerns to God, one at a time, instead of carrying them alone?

Closing Prayer..

Loving God, when my thoughts race ahead and my heart grows heavy, draw me back to the present moment where You are. Help me to breathe, to trust, and to rest in Your care for today. Teach me to live one step at a time, anchored in Your peace. Amen.