One day at a time

      Max Lucado says, "Worry is to joy, what a vacuum cleaner is to dirt; you might as well attach your heart to a happiness-sucker and flip the switch." Jesus said, "Don't get worked up about...tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes." When it looks like things are falling apart, Paul reminds us, "Every detail in our lives...is worked into something good" (Ro 8:28 TM). When it seems like the world's gone mad, don't forget God "existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together" (<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Col</st1:place></st1:State> 1:17 NLT). When worry whispers, "God doesn't know what you need," remember God promised to "take care of everything you need" (Ph 4:19 TM).

      Jesus taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread." You won't get the wisdom or resources to handle tomorrow's problems till you need them. When we "go confidently to the throne...[we'll] find kindness, which will help us at the right time" (Heb 4:16 GWT).

      Over a century ago Charles Spurgeon said: "Enough for today is all we can enjoy. We cannot eat, drink, or wear more than today's supply of food and clothing. The surplus gives us the care of storing it and the anxiety that someone might steal it. One staff aids a traveler; a bunch of staves is a heavy burden. Enough is as good as a feast, and more than gluttony can enjoy. Enough is all we should expect, a craving for more is ungratefulness. When our Father doesn't give you more, be content with your daily allowance."