Allow me to focus on one specific word: “now.” It is a word of massive, even ultimate importance. That’s because all we have is “now.” We live in an ever-present now. Yesterday was once now, but that time is past, and we don’t live there anymore. And by the time we get to tomorrow, it too will be now.

The point is that all we have is now, and if we don’t do the will of God now, when will we do it? As Paul wrote,

As God’s coworkers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1–2)

And then this urgent word from Hebrews,

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. As has just been said: ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.’ (Hebrews 3:12–15)

What is God saying to you today? What is He calling you to do now?

Procrastinating Today Away

It’s easy to make great promises about everything we will do for the Lord tomorrow. Tomorrow I’ll start a fast. Tomorrow I’ll start to dig into the Word. Tomorrow I’ll start a new prayer habit. But then tomorrow comes and we are back to our old habits — and that means our promises of obedience for tomorrow are often an unconscious cover-up for our disobedience in the here and now.

Maybe now is the time to start that fast or take a first step deeper into the Word and prayer. Now is all we have!

That’s why, again, the Scripture states, “Today if you hear His voice don’t harden your heart” — and that will lead to good fruit tomorrow. If you truly surrender today, those new habits will come tomorrow, all because you truly said yes today.

When our daughters were little, one of their favorite storybooks was I’ll Teach My Dog 100 Words. It was a fun, illustrated read, and it was a great vocabulary builder.

And so, on page after page, the dog owner taught his dog one new word after another, and the dog responded to each one. But on the last page, there was a surprise: Both the dog and his owner were asleep under a tree! The caption read, “I’ll teach my dog 100 words — tomorrow.” It was all a dream that never happened.

Isn’t that the story of some of our lives? Isn’t that the rut some of us have been in for years, if not decades? “I’ll do these great exploits for God — tomorrow!” And here we sit, all these years later, and very little has changed.

Breakthrough Starts Now

What, then, is the solution? Right now (or the first moment you have available), get alone with God and cry out to Him, telling Him that enough is enough and that you cannot continue to live the way you’ve been living. (Or, seeing the ministry results you’ve been seeing.) Confess your weakness and struggle to Him, asking Him to help and intervene in a radical way. Then ask Him, “What would You have me do now?”

He will lead and guide you. He will burden you and direct you. One way or another, He will help you to know. And if He does speak to you about something to act on tomorrow, write it down, seal your commitment by sharing it with someone else if possible — and then, come hell or high water, take that step and keep that pledge. His grace will carry you through.

And what happens if you fall flat on your face? Get up again, ask for His help and grace afresh, and refuse to take no for an answer. By His grace, you will break through — but it starts with your response right now. What will you do?

On August 23, 2014, after decades of struggles with unhealthy eating (not gluttony as much as unhealthy eating habits and food addictions), I told my wife, “My plan is not working.”

That was code for us, meaning, “I’m willing to make a radical change. Otherwise, I’m just going to get fatter and unhealthier.”

She replied, “No food passes through your lips without my permission. I’m taking control of your diet.”

To a chocaholic, pizzaholic, food addict like me — especially one who loathed trying new foods — those were terrifying words. But I knew I had no choice, and I had been crying out to the Lord for help. Even more, my wife had been praying for me. This was the moment for change.

That took place almost 10 years ago, and I cannot begin to describe how wonderfully and dramatically my life has changed. Praise God! I am a literally a new man, feeling as if I’m aging in reverse. And it all started in that one “now” moment. The Lord met me there.

Perhaps this is a “now” moment for you. Is the Lord speaking to you about a calling you must obey or a step you must take? Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your heart. You have all the grace you need to obey Him today.

Will you say, “Yes, Lord!” from the bottom of your heart? If so, you will never be the same!

Dr. Michael Brown is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. He is the author of more than 40 books, including Can You be Gay and Christian?; Our Hands Are Stained With Blood; and Seize the Moment: How to Fuel the Fires of Revival. You can connect with him on Facebook, X, or YouTube.