One Day At A Time
"Praise the Lord; praise God our Savior! For each day he carries us in his arms." Psalms 68:19 NLT
One day at a time, I know that sounds so cliché. If I were going through a hard time or feeling totally overwhelmed and your advice to me was "just take it one day at a time," my response would probably not be very thankful. However, when the pot of anxiety and stress in my life is about to boil over, those five words are what Jesus keeps speaking over my heart and mind. I wish I could think of something more modern to say to myself in these moments. But those five words slow me down when I am racing out of control. They remind me to stay in the moment and to only focus on what is right in front of me. Where are you feeling anxious and afraid today? School, work, family, or maybe the combination of all three have you ready to pull your hair out.
We Need To Be Reminded
Psalms 68:19 offers us three of God's promises to help us overcome the anxiety, fear, and uncertainty that are swirling all around us. But before we can experience the promises of God, we need to be reminded of two core truths.
Look closer at the first three words of the verse, "praise the Lord." Before we can experience God's promises, we need to refocus our hearts and minds on praising God for who He is and all that He has done for us. As our praise for God increases, the space in our minds for anxiety and fear decreases. Worship is the gateway to intimacy with God. Where do you need to be reminded of God's goodness today? Begin to speak out loud the many times that He has been faithful to you.
As praise for the Lord begins to flow from our lips, we can't help but be reminded of the second core truth in Psalms 68:19: "Praise God our Savior." We are praising Him because He is our Savior. We can't save ourselves. Our family, our accomplishments, and even our good deeds can't save us. Only Christ alone can save us. Where do you need to be reminded of the joy of your salvation today? Where do you need to be reminded of the eternal home that Jesus is preparing for you today?
Praise Unlocks God's Promises
As we refocus our minds on these two core truths, we can begin to experience the three promises found in Psalms 68:19. As I studied several different Bible versions of this verse, God showed me three promises that can help us overcome anxiety, fear, and disappointment.
Promise #1 - God Carries Us In His Arms
Reread the ending of Psalms 68:19 in the NLT version, "For each day he carries us in his arms." Let that sink in for a minute. The God of the universe wants to wrap His loving arms around you. He wants to cover you with His peace. Psalms 56:3 ESV declares, "when I am afraid, I put my trust in you." Where do you need to exchange fear for God's boldness today? Escape to a quiet place and let him wrap his loving arms around you.
Promise #2 - God Bears Our Burdens
The NIV version of Psalms 68:19 reveals promise number two. God "daily bears our burdens." Where are you feeling burdened today? Has the weight of the world become so great that you feel stuck and unable to move forward?The bible says, "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul." Psalm 94:19 ESV Allow God to exchange your anxiety for His peace.
Promise #3 - God Daily Loads Us With Benefits
The NKJV version of Psalms 68:19 reveals the third promise. God "daily loads us with benefits." But what kind of benefits? Physical, emotional, relational - all of the above and more. God desires to provide for our earthly needs, but also reminds us in Matthew 6:19-20 ESV "to not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth... but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." Disappointment and uncertainty begin to snowball when we put too much focus on our earthly plans and pursuits. Where have you allowed anger to creep into your heart because your earthly goals are spiraling out of control? Where do you need to surrender your agenda, exchanging your earthly plans for the heavenly adventure that you were uniquely created for?
A Heavenly Perspective
At some point in January 2021, when you begin to look back on this year, how will you remember it? Before you answer that question, please hear my heart on this. If we were sitting down for coffee or lunch, you would hear me say the next few sentences with great compassion and absolutely no judgment. Will you remember 2020 as the worst year in history? The year that everything got turned upside down, and our health, relationships, and finances felt so out of control? Or will you allow God to help you see the good in difficult earthly circumstances? Bring your anxiety, fear, and feelings of disappointment to the throne room of God. He wants to exchange them for peace, boldness, and a heavenly certainty that He is still in control. He wants to walk in lockstep with you taking life One Day At A Time. Will you let him?
Sample Prayer
Lord, I am often consumed by anxiety and fear. I just feel stuck and unable to move forward. Slow me down. Draw near to me. I want to exchange my anxiety and fear for your peace and boldness. I praise your name in the uncertainty.
Featured Music
NEEDTOBREATHE - Hang On
As you listen to this song allow God to open your heart and mind to His promises for your life. He loves you and has not given up on you. Hang On. Keep moving forward. Breakthrough is just around the corner.
These things, they take time
All these things take time, these things, they take time
All these things I’ve learned, it’s never a straight line
About the Author
Nathan Miller
You may know me as a husband, father, son, brother, friend, mentor, ultra marathoner runner, NBA basketball enthusiast, fan of all things tech, music lover and writer. However, the life blood that flows through everything that I strive to be comes from a desire for greater intimacy with Jesus Christ. He is my Savior, my Provider, my Lord and most of all my best friend.