Do you live in the land of 'if only'? Do you dream of a better life... if only? If only the scale tipped in my favor, if only my bank account bulged, if only love loomed on the horizon, if only popularity described my social life.... you get the idea. You may find yourself in this spot, dreaming of the day when life is perfect. Often when calling up the phrase, "One day at a time," I find myself trapped in an earthly struggle. I recognize things don't change overnight, but if I tackle them knowing each day I work on my problems, I am one day closer to solving them.
Habits aren't changed because I want them changed. New habits aren't adopted by embracing them in the moment. But they are begun that day and will continue to improve, change, or disappear, over time, if I stay focused. One-day-at-a-time is an effective way to adopt new habits and exchange bad ones for good ones.
The truth is, power exists in the if only. These words can propel us to give a new idea a try. Dreaming of our wished-for state might prompt us to take the next right step in a new direction.
Years ago, my heart burned to read the Bible, to dig into God's Word and make sense of what I read, but this huge undertaking challenged this novice who never read God's Word before. Then I stumbled upon 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. These short and simple verses started me on the path to my love of Scripture, and my daily desire to read and journal what God is teaching me.
Now, when my weaknesses surface and I am at a loss for how to change them, I recall these 6 words: Rejoice Always, Pray Continually, Give Thanks. And one day at a time, I am made new.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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