For a person who likes to plan ahead, it’s very difficult to be in the moment without knowing what’s next. When we start planning our lives for the next year or so, we can get anxious because we might not have a complete picture of what our lives will look like in a year. The Bible asks us not to worry about tomorrow but to focus on each day. According to Matthew 6:34, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (New American Standard Bible). I can only focus on today and need to ask God to give me the strength for the next day and the next, one day at a time.
I got reminded of this song that my parents used to play when I was a kid “One Day at a Time.”
“One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking of 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
God help me today
Show me the way
One day at a time.”
-Marilyn Sellars
Click here to listen to the full song
We usually don’t have control over what can happen in a week, month, or year. If we start worrying about what could happen in a year, we might miss out on living our present life. If we try to plan everything for a year with the strength that we have for today, we can get frustrated. That doesn’t mean we can’t plan anything for our future. We can have our plans, but we need to hold on to them loosely and submit them daily to God for His will to happen. We need to listen to what God wants us to do each day. According to Proverbs 16:3, “Commit your works to the Lord, And your plans will be established” (New American Standard Bible).
I hope I don’t get too much ahead and plan everything instead of trusting God one day at a time. I recently read this quote by Toby Mac, “It’s hard to hear God’s voice when you’ve already decided what you want Him to say.” Our God has great plans for our future, so it is best to submit our plans to Him. According to Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope” (New American Standard Bible).
I was encouraged by this quote by Tim Tebow, “God has all the details figured out. Even though worry is natural, try to release it. Find peace that His knowledge is greater than ours”. I hope we can rest in that.
