There is a story about Francis of Assisi as he was working in his garden one day. Someone asked him what he would do if he should find out that he was going to die that very day before sunset. According to the story, Francis supposedly replied: "Finish working in my garden."

The story reminds of what Jesus said in His sermon on the mount. In Matthew 6 He talked about people who worried about the future: "What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?" (Matthew 6:31).

Jesus was not condemning thoughtful planning for foreseeable future needs. After all, King Solomon admonishes us to consider the example of the ant that stores up food for the winter (Proverbs 6:6-8).

Jesus was talking about anxiety over the future. He tells us: "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (verse 34).

Why shouldn't we be anxious about tomorrow? For one thing, it can be a waste of time. Time management consultant Bob Barnes writes: "Eighty-five percent of the things we worry about never happen."

The only time we can change something in our lives is now – today. That's true of every day we are given to live in our lifetime. How should we approach each new day?

"This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24).

With these thoughts I wish everyone a rewarding Sabbath!