Day by Day

Do any of you struggle with taking life day by day? I think it must be a pretty common issue based on the number of quotes and quips about living in the moment, savoring each day, and focusing on the present. There’s a definite balance to be had in remembering the past but not getting stuck in it, and preparing for the future but not missing out on the present. I myself have fallen into both of these extremes at one time or another, and doing that has definitely helped me to understand the importance of taking life one day at a time, not only for my own sake but also for others'. Think about it: if we were really focused on today—on the blessings to thank God for, the opportunities to serve Him and love others, the growth and lessons He could use to shape us—can you imagine how God could use us? I think that Satan likes to keep us distracted from the present by having us focus on the past or future because he also knows how God could use someone who is sensitive to the moment. So with that said, how can we grow in this art of living day by day? I’m glad you asked. Here is what I am learning.

LIVING IN THE PAST

“No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” 

~Luke 9:62

If you struggle with living in the past, I think the best remedy for that is to let go. I think this is an ongoing, conscious choice we have to make over and over:

• To think back on sweet gifts and blessings we no longer have and thank God for them, but then accept that He has removed them now and walk willingly through the grief and loss with God’s grace and help. Psalm 143:5-6 expresses this well: "I remember the days of old.  I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain."
• To learn the lessons gained from painful interactions or circumstances, but then let go of whatever bitterness, anger, or hurt we may be tempted to grip onto to protect ourselves from future pain. "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13)
• To acknowledge that we were disappointed or wounded by people and events, but then trust that God can (and does) use even those things to bring about good. The story of Joseph is an awesome example of this, but one verse in particular wraps it all up, when Joseph talks to his brothers after they sold him into slavery: "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." (Geneis 50:20)

Isaiah 43:18-19 tells us, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” We don’t want to miss whatever new things God has in store because we are so caught up in the past. 

FOCUSED ON THE FUTURE

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"

~Luke 12:25-26

If your struggle is more in the realm of what is to come, I think the biggest remedy is to simply trust God, to have the humility to rely on Him and leave every part of your future in His hands. There are so many areas we can apply this practice:

• If you are worried about having what you may need later, remember that it is ultimately God who provides, and He promises to meet your every need. Matthew 6:31-34 tells us, “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.”
• If you look to the days ahead and are overwhelmed by looming trials, grief, or challenges, remember that you don’t see the whole picture; you don’t know what kinds of mercies, grace, help, and strength God will provide to get you through them. Lamentations 3:21-23 says, “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” God will give you new mercies for every new morning, perfectly tailored for whatever the day may bring.
• If you find yourself distracted from today because you are caught up in making plans for success later on, remember that “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9) We need to have the humility to remember that ultimately all of our plans may fail; only God’s will endures. I don’t think it’s at all bad to make plans and try to be purposeful in our time, but we still need to keep a sense of humility in understanding that ultimately God’s plans are the ones that will happen (which is really a good thing, since He says in Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans are to prosper us and give us hope and a future.)

Matthew 6:34 tells us, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Don't borrow trouble, worry, or stress from tomorrow. Just focus on whatever God has for you today and walk through it in His strength and grace. 

My favorite Bible verse that I’ve adopted as my life verse is Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” I recently found out that “be still” is actually translated as the Hebrew word for "let go", which means that this verse is a perfect one to keep in mind in order to help us focus on living in the present"

“Be still (let go) [of the past] and know that I am God [trust me with your future].” 

 Let’s all try to remember to live this way and see how God can use people who are truly living day by day.