Living in the Present Moment

When I was younger and told the LORD that I wanted to be a saint, I searched for what 'made' "a Saint". What I found was that the Saints all learned to live "in the present moment". When talking to the LORD, I asked Him to help me to learn to live in the present moment. I found it difficult on my own as I struggled to understand it. I I asked the LORD to please give me a visual to help me so that I could understand the concept. The LORD directed me to get my Dad's carpenter's level. (I love that it was a 'carpenter's level.) I did and He instructed me that when I live in the present moment, this is where He is and I receive all the graces necessary for the moment and I have His peace - thus the level being in balance - the bubble is in the 'center'. I am 'centered'. When I or the devil tilt it down to the left by being distracted and taunted(my emotions and his lies) by that of the past, thus I am out of 'the moment' - out of balance. Hence, when I or the devil tilt it down to the right by anxiety or fear of things of the future, I am again out of balance. It's a spiritual exercise and battle, if you will, that is on-going - striving to live with JESUS in the present moment! When I do - WOW! It's an amazing moment - even in the times of suffering or carrying the cross - JESUS is with me. I am remembering 2 Scriptures from the Old Testament and I know there are others in the New Testament as well:

 

"Be sure that I am with you; I will keep you safe wherever you go..." Genesis:28:15

 

"Be strong and stand firm,..never swerve from the right or the left, and then you will be happy in all you do. Have the book of this Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may carefully keep everything that is written in it. Then you will prosper in your dealings, then you will have success. Have I not told you; Be strong and stand firm? Be fearless then, be confident, for go where you will, Yahweh your GOD is with you." Joshua 1:6-9