Everyday Is A New Day With New Opportunities
For the last number of days I have been reminded by the Lord that each day is a new day with new opportunities.
This is not a new revelation to me. It is something that I learned many years ago.
I have always been the kind of person that likes to plan my work; and then, work my plan. There was a time in my life that I had a one-year plan…a two-year plan…and a five-year plan. Oh, I have always been quite tenacious in my endeavors.
Then I started noticing that at the same time I was pursuing my plans, my plans were taking a toll on me. I’d get frustrated with things didn’t happened quite like I had planned. Stress began slowly to suck the life out of me. I also found that my relationship with others began to suffer because of my resolve to "get ‘er done."
With the help of the Lord and a loving wife, I finally realized that I had a strong tendency to "forsake people for the sake of the program." Something had to change. It was at this time in my life that I learn this valuable lesson from the Lord: "live one day at a time."
I like the way Petersen’s translates Matt. 6:34 in The Message, "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
When I finally let these words of wisdom settle in my heart, my whole life got healthier. My relationships improved. My stress level went way down. My attitude got better; and guess what? I was much happier!
I still am a hard worker, and I still make plans. But I don’t put them ahead of my family or the Lord. I have learned over and over again not to worry so much about "tomorrow" that I lose sight of the blessings and opportunities of "today."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (The Message):
So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.
If you want to catch a glimpse of what I’m saying, just get up early the next few mornings. Find you a quiet place around your house where you can hear and see the "majesty" of a morning sunrise.
