September 13th, 2019

“Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time.”

Jesus says, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life.” (Matthew 6:25) How nice would it be to obey God’s command here? One clinical psychological researcher says worry “makes you miserable in the present moment to try and prevent misery in the future”, and leads worriers to “be continually distressed all their lives in order to avoid later events that never happen. Worry sucks the joy out of the ‘here and now’ to prevent an unrealistic ‘then and there.’” 

Funny thing about worry is that most of what we are anxious about never actually happens. In fact, one survey of worriers revealed that 91.4 percent of our worries never materialize! We ask God for the grace to live one day at a time because it is the most sane and reasonable way to live.  Jesus agrees. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34)

No day is without its own trouble. Realizing this is also the most sane and reasonable way to live. But God is more than sufficient to meet your day’s trouble – 100 percent of the time. And leaving tomorrow in His strong hands may even allow you to enjoy the moments of today.

“O God, our times our in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on us as we begin another day. Grant that we may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen our trust in your goodness all the days of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.” (For A Birthday—BCP p. 830)