A fascinating study was done with Navy Seals in 2017, titled “Mindfulness in Action: Discovering How U.S. Navy Seals Build Capacity for Mindfulness in High-Reliability Organizations (HROs).” This study identified five key characteristics of high-resiliency people:

1. Operate in the present tense
2. Know what to pay attention to
3. Maintain a flexible and open state of mind
4. Are never stuck in old ways of thinking and can easily change paradigms
5. Face failure with enthusiasm

Let’s begin with the first one – being able to operate in the present tense.

What does that mean?

Jesus taught His disciples to live in the moment. Be prepared as needed, but don’t stress about having enough and knowing everything that’s coming. Trust God!

We read in Mark 6 that Jesus sent the disciples out in pairs to preach and heal. “These were His instructions: ‘Take nothing for the journey except a staff – no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. Wear sandals but not an extra shirt.’” (NIV)

Two things were accomplished with these instructions. They traveled light so they could move quickly and respond easily in the moments. And they were dependent every day on God to provide, which meant their faith grew as they journeyed. They became more confident in God’s presence and care. They became more resilient!

Jesus also teaches us not to worry about the future. In His famous Sermon on the Mount, He says in Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (NIV)

One compelling benefit of not worrying is the ability to focus right here, right now. Who’s in front of you, talking, wanting engagement, needing help? Who might need to be prayed over or given financial provision of some kind? If we’re always planning, organizing, and stressing over the details we are missing what’s happening right in front of us.

It doesn’t mean preparation is wrong! The Bible says planning ahead is a good thing, but within the boundary of faith. Over preparing is an indication that I think I can control everything. Doing what I need to do and then heading out to bless people, is trust.

So how are you doing in operating in the present tense? The right here and the right now?

Are you looking for what God is doing in this moment?