Living One Day at a Time

There is a song that goes, “I’m only human, I’m just a 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 help me to take one day at a time. One day at a time, sweet Jesus. One day at a time.” Do you live your life one day at a time?

Living our lives one day at a time entails three things: Freedom from your past, hope for tomorrow, and joy for today.

           1.    Don't worry about your past

I recently met a funny-energetic mother of five who was abandoned by the man of the house a few years ago. Her oldest son literally pushed her down the stairs at one point. Her husband, at another occasion, hit her on the head with a coffee cup while she was pregnant, and her 16-year-old son watched and did not do a thing. She constantly cries because she wishes she could go back in time and do things differently –raise her son as he should have been raised. Unfortunately the mistakes we have committed in our past are done, and crying or worrying about it will not fix anything. I looked at her straight in the eyes and told her, “You now have the opportunity to do things differently with your other 4 kids –the oldest is only thirteen!

Statistics show that 30% of the things people worry about belong in the past. It seems to me that most of us have not yet understood the importance to forgive, forget, and learn from our mistakes. Seriously, live your life one day at a time and forget about your past because Christ has nailed it on the cross!

           2.    Tomorrow is not here yet

The song continues saying, “Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus. And tomorrow may never be mine. Lord, help me today, show me the way One day at a time”

The American dream is what most of us have come for, traveled thousands of miles, and sacrificed even our own families. I have met friends who have loved ones on the other side of the border, working 12-14 hours a day, and looking forward for that big fat check at the end of the week. Interesting thing is that decades have gone by and the “American Dream” for many has not yet been seized.

What are you looking forward to? Is it keeping you from living your today?

           3.    Today: A gift from the Lord

I remember that I would have an extremely hard time going to sleep every night of each December 16. The adrenaline in my body and excitement would constantly keep me thinking about the birthday presents I would get from my family and friend’s the next day. Would I get a bike? Another game for my Super Nintendo? Would my aunt give me underwear again this year?

In the same manner we ought to live our lives as if everyday was our birthday, and enjoy the gifts from up above. Our God is a God of miracles, and He desires to lead your life a miracle a day. Yes, the air we breath is a miracle, the fact we get up in the morning is a miracle, that we have shelter and food on the table is a miracle, but I’m talking about seeing God’s power working, witnessing, and experiencing a real miracle in your life.

The word “Yesterday” only appears 9 times in the entire Bible, the word “Tomorrow” 55, and “Today” 189 instances. Wow!!!!

Certainly, Christ doesn’t want you to dwell on the past for He has nailed it on the cross, but do look forward for tomorrow for hope gives us life and the blessed hope will gift us eternal life, and most importantly He wants you to live your today because “Today is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Therefore, today, pray so you may not only live your day one day at a time but also one miracle a day.

Blessings!