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In my years of ministry I have noticed that the average Christian is being crucified between two thieves, the regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow. People just cannot seem to enjoy life today because they are being robbed by yesterday and tomorrow. So I think it would be good for all of us to learn to live "a day at a time."
Now, when you start living one day at a time -- life becomes more exciting. It becomes more enriching, it is no longer dull, it is no longer filled with drudgery, and you will find yourself doing less complaining and griping about life and it's circumstances. When one starts living one day at a time, life starts to fall into the kind of pattern that God wants it to be. But if you and I are going to start living one day at a time, we need to draw upon the provisions that God has made for us. It is those provisions I would like to share with you today. If as a believer, you will simply reach out by faith -- every day -- and lay hold of what God has provided for you, you will find yourself carrying the burdens of life with a lot more strength and courage. You will find yourself being easier to live with.
You will find yourself not being torn apart by pressures. You will find yourself accomplishing much more for the Lord. You will find that life will be lubricating instead of grating and grinding. You will find yourself a lot holier and a lot happier. What I am about to share with you -- to me is very important -- that is, "Living, one day at a time." And the only way to live one day at a time is to every day draw upon the provisions that God has made for you. It is not difficult to know what these provisions are because in the word of God we will be looking at a number of verses that use this little phrase "day by day" or something equivalent to that. Do you want to live one day at a time? Do you want to learn to put the regrets of the past behind you? Do you want to minimize the worries of tomorrow? Then what are the provisions of God that allow us to live one day at a time? The first provision is found in Luke 11:3 and it is the Provision of His Care. This verse is part of what is commonly referred to as the Lord's Prayer and it is the first of God's provisions for us. Ever have a day where you found yourself fretting about daily bread? With the rise in gas and heating prices, the inflation of food prices and healthcare, we all at times worry about whether we will have enough "daily bread." Here Jesus promises us day by day His care and His provisions. Does that mean it is wrong to provide for the future? No, Jesus had a plan for the future. The apostle Paul made plans and provisions for the future. In fact if you do not plan for the future you will not be prepared when the future comes. What our Lord is telling us is that you can't live in the future. So He prays, "Trust your heavenly Father, day by day, to meet your physical and material needs. The whole picture of Lk. 11:1-13 is a picture of prayer and the most important thing we can do as Christians is to pray. Jesus in one of his parables said, If you need some bread and you do not have any, go and knock on your friends door and even if you knock at midnight, if you keep knocking you will get what you need. But in our Lord's Prayer he moves into a higher and deeper relationship.
He is saying our prayer for daily bread is not based on a friendship; it is based on a sonship. The beautiful picture is this: When I wake up in the morning - my Father is already awake for He never sleeps - and He knows I have need of food and clothing and shelter. So day-by-day, because of His care for me, He will provide what I need.
And when you start to pray about bread, or rent, or health, or a job - relate your needs to God's purpose. That God's name might be glorified. That God's kingdom might be established. That God's will be done. Then I can pray with confidence - Father, my needs are a part of your great plan. Here they are - meet them. Day by day - He cares. More of us need to begin to confess the sin of worry. Worrying about health; worrying about money; worrying about bills. And need I remind you that it is a sin to worry. Jesus tells us that our Father will take care of our needs - day by day. Isn't it wonderful to wake up in the morning and know that God will supply all my needs according to His riches in glory? Day by Day - The provision of His care. In Nehemiah 8:1-8 we will find the second provision, the Provision of His word, This chapter is an account of a great Bible conference conducted by Ezra. Nehemiah had just led a construction crew to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and set up the gates and fortify the city. Now they are ready for the dedication and they called upon Ezra to lead it. In v.1 you will discover that there were a lot of different gates in Jerusalem but for the purpose of dedication they met at the 'water-gate.' That was a good place to have a Bible conference for the word of God is like water in that it cleanses and refreshes. They said, "Bring the book" and everyone knew what book they were bringing. In verse 2 they brought the book. In v.3 they heard from the book. In v. 3 they understood the book. In v.8 they obeyed the book
They brought the book, they read from the book, they heard the book, they understood the book, and at the end of the chapter they obeyed the book and a great revival came.
Then everyday, day-by-day, the people gathered together and said, let's hear from the book. Friends, if you are going to live 'a day at a time', have the kind of day God wants you to have and start it by reading from the book. There is just no substitute for it. I have never kept statistics but in my 25 years of ministry I am convinced that 90% of all spiritual problems started with the neglect of God's word. I know we are all so busy. But are you too busy to set that alarm clock 15 minutes earlier so that before the day becomes too cluttered you can bring the book, read the book, understand the book, and obey the book. Go to the water-gate so the steams of refreshing water can flow over your dry and parched souls. If you want to live day-by-day, if you want to learn to live one day at a time you must experience the power and provisions of God and you will find them in His word. His word is food (man shall not live by bread alone because you need food for your souls). His word is a light and we all need guidance. His word is a sword and we all have our battles to fight. His word is a fire and the disciples on the Emmaus road said their hearts burned when the scriptures were opened to them. Have you experienced the blessings of a burning heart - you've got to if you want to live day by day.
Day by day His care, day by day his word. A third provision is found in Deut. 33:25 and it is the Provision of Strength. The KJV says "Thy shoes shall be iron and brass: and as thy days, so shall thy strength be. Too many of us go to church and take in what we can and think that will charge our batteries for the week. It doesn't work that way. We all have had the experience of being on the top of the mountain on Sunday only to find ourselves in the valley on Monday. God doesn't say I will give you strength for the week.
He says, I will give you strength day by day. Monday morning, the first thing I do is make a list of all that will comprise my week. A 'to do' list. Sometimes I look at my obligations, my responsibilities, the demands on my time and I become like the centipede. You have not heard the story of the centipede?
The beetle came up to the centipede and asked, "How do you know which leg to move first? The centipede answered, "I never thought about that." And the more he thought about it the more paralyzed he became. But even the universe God created for us teaches us one day at a time. He created day and He created night. Attempting to store up strength for the week goes against the very plan of creation. No wonder at times it seems as if the whole universe is against us. God gives us but one day at a time and we wear ourselves out today carrying tomorrow's burdens.
God gives one day at a time and we wear ourselves out carrying yesterday's regrets.
Day by day - His strength. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. (The word renew mean to exchange). They that wait upon the Lord shall exchange their strength for His. My mother gave me a gift, it was my deceased father's watch. It is a watch you must wind. I like it because it reminds me that each morning I must wind up this watch to make it run for the day. It also reminds me that I need to draw my strength from the Lord to make me run for the day. Day by day His care, Day by day his word
Day by day his strength. The forth provision is found in II Chronicles 30:21 and it is the Provision for His Praise. This is the record of Hezekiah's great Passover revival but it is a picture of praising God everyday - not just Sunday's. I read an interesting story in a book titled, "Counseling across the Lifespan". It told of a woman who was very negative towards life. She decided to become a positive person by incorporating into her daily life an attitude of praise. Instead of saying to her teenage son, "You are late for work again, she said to herself, "Praise the Lord he has a job". Instead of saying to her elementary aged daughter, look at the mess you made when you came home from school", she said, "Praise the Lord that she is home safe." When my son was younger I remember how uptight I use to get because he would have toys everywhere. I could actually feel my chest get tight at times. One day I said, Praise God that all these toys are reminders of this little boy I love. What would I do without him? A positive attitude can change one's perspective. We just so love to be negative. There are people who only see the things that are wrong. There are people who don't see the picture for the dust that is on the mantle.
But here in II Chronicles are some people who have dedicated to praising the Lord - every day. Do we? You say, I don't have much to praise the Lord about. Yes you do. I challenge you to read the book of Psalms for in them you will fond much to praise the Lord about. Ever praise the Lord for highways or are you too busy gripping about potholes and traffic jams. Ever praise the Lord for your neighbors or are you too busy taking them for granted. Too many of us walk through life poisoning others and ourselves with criticism. Day by day - His praise. And it is a tremendous medicine for the cure of criticism. It will change your attitude about life. Day by day His care, day by day His word, day by day his strength, and day-by-day His praise. To those that have not trusted Christ as Savior. You are not alive. You are not living. The Bible says you are dead in your trespasses and sins. And one of these days you will step into a day that will never end and it will be an endless night. Death and darkness forever. Trust our Lord for your salvation and start living - one day at a time. To those who are Christians I say start living one day at a time. Don't let the regrets of yesterday and the worries of tomorrow rob you of the victories of today. Let God order the meal and set the table - you just feats on His provisions one day at a time.
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The Rev. Dr. James Barnes is currently the pastor of White Memorial Church in Milroy.