For each of us, there are days that are more difficult than others—times when we feel overwhelmed and ill equipped to face life’s challenges. It is in these times especially that we have to live one day at a time, letting go of the past and not worrying about the future—dealing only with what we absolutely have to do that day.

One day at a time allows you to break life into doable chunks. God has promised we won’t be given more than we can handle. When you look at your problems over your life span, one year at a time, or even a big problem at a time, it is too much. But when you break them down into what needs to be done one day at a time, you can do it.

One day at a time is where God wants you to be. One day at a time allows you to start fresh if you have regrets about yesterday. One day at a time allows you not to deal with what is coming tomorrow. One day at a time allows you to take care of yourself in simple ways. One day at a time makes you live better today, which will mean you will have fewer regrets tomorrow about how you lived today.

Concentrate on doing the best you can with today. Those of us in difficult relationships make negative predictions about tomorrow. You don’t really know what tomorrow will bring. It might be better than you expect! And if it isn’t, taking it one day at a time will allow you to put all your energy into handling it. This isn’t denial; it is living life in a way that makes triumphing over your problems possible.

You can live this day any way you want. You can put into it whatever will help you to live today better.

Here are some ideas:

• You can do something productive so you will feel good about what you accomplished.
• You can do something to take care of yourself even if it is small.
• You can do something fun even for a few moments to lighten your load.
• You can do something differently to remind you that you have choices.
• You can do what you need to do today even if it feels like it is too hard.
• You can do something you don’t want to do, one day or one moment at a time.

Try living today differently regardless of what you are living with.

By Karla Downing

Relationship Devotional Prayer

 
God,

Help me to live today to the best of my ability by doing things that will make today better and easier and by letting go of my worries about not being able to handle tomorrow.

Relationship Devotional Challenge

•  How can you live today differently?

Scripture Meditation

 
Matthew 6:34

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (NIV).

1 Corinthians 10:13

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (NIV).