One Day at a Time

By Mike Pence

In one of the Rocky movies, Rocky was training a younger fighter and he told him “One step at a time.  One punch at a time.  One round at a time.”

What he meant was, don't think too far ahead.  Stay in the present.  If you focus too much on the future you will lose focus of what it takes to get there.

Several years ago, I worked at Spectrum, but I only stayed there for about three months.  I dreaded going to work every day.  It was a good job, good company, good benefits.  My job was to take phone calls and help customers get their internet working.  Basically, I was paid to talk to mad people all day.  If you want to really make someone mad, take away their internet or their TV.  I stressed every day when I went to work.  I had to focus on each day, one day at a time.  Each call, one call at a time.

Perhaps that’s what we need to do in our spiritual lives.  Take things one day at a time.

PRAYER

Start the day with a prayer.  Every day before I’d clock in and start taking calls, I’d say a prayer.  It helped me take my worries and give them to God.  This is one of the hardest lessons I’ve had to learn in my life.  Some things are out of my control.  When you are confronted with those things, say a prayer and give your worries to Him.

Philippians 4:6-7 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

DO NOT WORRY

Focus on today.  Don’t worry about tomorrow.

Several years ago, Jonathan and I were into bird photography.  It was a way for me to get out and forget about things I was worried about.  A way to be reminded that God will take care of me.  One of my favorite photographs I took was a simple little sparrow.  God provides for him, and He loves me even more.  That’s what Matthew 6:25-34 tells us.  Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

The text in Matthew 6 gives several reasons not to worry.  Is not life and body more important than food and clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, are you not more valuable than they?  Can you grow simply by worrying?  Consider the lilies, won't God provide for you also?

Psalms 68:19 - "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits.  The God of our salvation!"

Let’s go out this week, take things “one step at a time, one punch at a time, one round at a time.”  Pray to God every day and give your worries to Him.