Here is the looming question for you: How are your resolutions going so far? It’s only day two, so I hope you are hopeful and are living up to your own expectations of changing some things in your life. It’s good to have a list, a plan, a goal for needed changes. I love new starts. You know, Jesus gave some great advice regarding resolutions. He said we should approach life this way: “Give us this day.”1 That’s it! That’s the advice! It’s a one-day-at-a-time mentality and it is very effective! But it is still hard.
So, here on day two, if you have already blown your promise to start something, I suggest you toss that one aside and concentrate on the next thing on the list. But if, here on day two, you are still successful with your resolutions, then good for you! And don’t worry about how long you can keep it up. Just stay in the day! One day at a time. The Serenity Prayer is a great prayer to say daily. Here it is:
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
Living one day at a time
Enjoying one moment at a time
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace
Taking as Jesus did this sinful world as it is
Not as I would have it
Trusting that you will make all things right
If I surrender to your will
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with you forever in the next!
“Living one day at a time” is the only way we will really be successful. If we can stay true to our new habit “this day,” then we can do it tomorrow! But don’t get ahead of yourself. Stay in the day! Remember Jesus also said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow.”2 So, let’s not worry if we will be able to keep our new habit tomorrow. Let’s just keep it today. That’s all.
There’s a reason Jesus said not to worry about tomorrow and it is not because tomorrow we will have no reason to worry! No. Just the opposite! He said, “for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.”2 Tomorrow there will be plenty of reasons to worry! But if we heed Jesus’ words, we won’t worry tomorrow either because we will be in a new day and approach our habit with the same hope: “Give us this day.”
The truth is, “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”2 Every day will be full of problems to overcome and challenges to meet. We humans only have enough power—physically, mentally, and emotionally—to handle one day at a time. Why is this so hard to do? Well, plans must be made. We cannot not think about tomorrow! But Jesus is not telling us to not think about tomorrow—he’s just telling us not to worry about it! Jesus told us to prepare for the storms ahead so we will not have to worry about them when they come.
But we are to live for today. We are to stay in the day, be present where we are. God is found in the present. David writes, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”3 So when trouble comes, God will be present. And if God is present then we need not worry. David ends his psalm, “The Lord of hosts is with us.”4 Since God is with us now, this day, this moment, all we really need is to be present with him. So, let’s concentrate on the day. Lord, Give us this day.
1Matthew 6:11 2Matthew 6:34 3Psalm 46:1 4Psalm 46:11
