A few weeks ago during one of our many snow storms for this winter, there were only a few people in attendance at our church that particular morning, so my husband suggested that we all go to breakfast at a local restaurant. While there, the topic of living one day at a time came up. When we live one day at a time, we are living in the present moment. We can not undo what happened in our lives yesterday and we can not control or worry about tomorrow–we can only live one day at a time.
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV) says: “Therefore I tell you: do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body; what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all its splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith. So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
There is a beautiful song that has been recorded by such artists as Merle Haggard and Cristy Lane, which depicts a prayer to the Lord to help us to take one day at a time:
ONE DAY AT A TIME, SWEET JESUS
VS.1: I’m only human, I’m just a woman/man
Help me believe in what I could be and all that I am.
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord, for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.
CHORUS: One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from you.
Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way one day at a time.
VS.2: Do you remember when You walked among men
Well Jesus You know if you’re looking below, it’s worse now than then.
Cheating and stealing, violence and crime
So for my sake, teach me to take one day at a time.
This song is a reminder that we need to pray and ask God to help us live in the present–one day at a time. May the Lord bless you as you seek Him daily for His direction in your life and help all of us to stop worrying and begin trusting Him for all things.
Blessings on you,
Yvonne