We cannot foresee what the Lord has in mind for us. Our only course of action is to be prepared and worthy for whatever he requires. We must govern our actions every day with our future in mind.
President M. Russell Ballard, "Purity Precedes Power", General Conference, October 1990
One of the enemy's tactics is to make us focus on the here and now and forget the future. It is even more difficult with our "instant gratification" world we live in today. Everything we want is right at our finger tips. It has become very easy to worry about today and forget tomorrow.
I think back about how our great church leaders and other great examples were as kids growing up. I'm sure there were a handful that knew they were being prepared for future leadership in the church, obviously Joseph Smith was one who knew he was destined for greatness at a young age. But, I would venture to say that most great leaders grew up as kids who were just like me, who made mistakes, like we all do, especially me.
My point is, that we don't know what Heavenly Father has planned for us in the future, at least I don't. And the beauty of the Atonement of Christ is that mistakes that we have made in the past will not ever disqualify us from what our future blessings will be. I am extremely grateful for that.
All we can do, all I can do, is live each moment of my life as prepared as possible so that Heavenly Father can rely on me to do whatever He needs done. Or that He can bless me because I never know when I'm going to need those blessings. I must have oil in my lamp.....always. I cannot afford to live for today, for right now, and procrastinate what needs to be done today and think I'll have a chance to do it tomorrow. I may not have that chance.