Life can sometimes be hard. We all have things that drive us crazy, things we find hard to do, or maybe even people that we find difficult to tolerate. It could be a health issue, an emotional issue, or financial issue. Although this does not exhaust the list, it gives us a good start. Sometimes when we look at these areas in our life we look at them long term. Although we obviously have to do this at times, other times it can be too overwhelming to look at large blocks of time.
What if we took life and thought about it in increments. For example, instead of looking at a week, a month, or a year, what if we looked at a day? What if we literally took those things we wanted to try to accomplish, and tried to perform them for twenty-four hours. It could be anything from watching our attitude; eating healthy, stop smoking, exercising, and the list could go on for days. I think most of us would say that we could probably survive most normal things, if we knew it was only going to be twenty-four hours, unless it was a juice fast. I am convinced if our staff had to juice for twenty-four hours some would not make it, but of course we will not say their names (GW)! I am pretty sure they are not getting on board.
Today was one of those days that I needed to think in a 24- hour time frame. It started in the morning, and continued into the night. I have tried to reassure myself tonight, that tomorrow is indeed a new day. I can start it however I choose. The slate will be clean, and it will be up to me how I handle it. Often times we get caught up in our situations and begin to allow them to dictate how we feel. Do you realize that your circumstances usually affect your perceptions? Think about it for a moment: what you are feeling, thinking and experiencing now may be controlled by your current situation. Are you happy, content, peaceful . . . . ? It is probably because things are going well in your life right now. Are you sad, empty, troubled, angry . . . . ? Chances are things are not going as you wish. The general tendency of people is to follow their circumstances. However, I have seen some people live through some unimaginable tragedy. In the process of ministering to them, I would often think how are they surviving, and with great faith and perseverance. These verses continually came to my mind.
Lamentation 3:22-24 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Proverb 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”
As I was sitting in the Doctors office today, waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I saw a newspaper clipping. It was an article from Dear Abby Dec 31, 2012. As I began to read it, I was intrigued by its words. I immediately marked it on my phone so I could share it with you. It basically says we can do anything for a day. The idea is living life one day at a time, so we fully live each day.
Just For Today
JUST FOR TODAY, I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.
I know that I can do something for 24 hours- that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I'll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking. Just for today, I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will do something positive to improve my health. If I'm a smoker, I'll quit. If I'm overweight, I will eat healthfully -- if only for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it's only around the block.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.
The prayer of St. Francis (of which there are several versions) contains a powerful message:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I just sat and thought about this article for a while. What if today we did in fact take our life one day at a time? Only tried to handle the things that were necessary for that day. What if just for today we tried to live just as Jesus did? What if just for today we tried to pour out everything we have to give? What if? That statement is waiting for us to take it, and finish the story for the day. Before we know it one day might be two, two days might be a week, a week might be a month, a month might be a year. We could literally transform our whole life, by a simple twenty-four hour approach.
Will you begin the twenty-four hour challenge today? We could find ourselves poured out before the Lord for the rest of our life. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning
What if we took life and thought about it in increments. For example, instead of looking at a week, a month, or a year, what if we looked at a day? What if we literally took those things we wanted to try to accomplish, and tried to perform them for twenty-four hours. It could be anything from watching our attitude; eating healthy, stop smoking, exercising, and the list could go on for days. I think most of us would say that we could probably survive most normal things, if we knew it was only going to be twenty-four hours, unless it was a juice fast. I am convinced if our staff had to juice for twenty-four hours some would not make it, but of course we will not say their names (GW)! I am pretty sure they are not getting on board.
Today was one of those days that I needed to think in a 24- hour time frame. It started in the morning, and continued into the night. I have tried to reassure myself tonight, that tomorrow is indeed a new day. I can start it however I choose. The slate will be clean, and it will be up to me how I handle it. Often times we get caught up in our situations and begin to allow them to dictate how we feel. Do you realize that your circumstances usually affect your perceptions? Think about it for a moment: what you are feeling, thinking and experiencing now may be controlled by your current situation. Are you happy, content, peaceful . . . . ? It is probably because things are going well in your life right now. Are you sad, empty, troubled, angry . . . . ? Chances are things are not going as you wish. The general tendency of people is to follow their circumstances. However, I have seen some people live through some unimaginable tragedy. In the process of ministering to them, I would often think how are they surviving, and with great faith and perseverance. These verses continually came to my mind.
Lamentation 3:22-24 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”
Proverb 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart; and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths.”
As I was sitting in the Doctors office today, waiting for what seemed like an eternity, I saw a newspaper clipping. It was an article from Dear Abby Dec 31, 2012. As I began to read it, I was intrigued by its words. I immediately marked it on my phone so I could share it with you. It basically says we can do anything for a day. The idea is living life one day at a time, so we fully live each day.
Just For Today
JUST FOR TODAY, I will live through this day only. I will not brood about yesterday or obsess about tomorrow. I will not set far-reaching goals or try to overcome all of my problems at once.
I know that I can do something for 24 hours- that would overwhelm me if I had to keep it up for a lifetime.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will be happy. I will not dwell on thoughts that depress me. If my mind fills with clouds, I will chase them away and fill it with sunshine.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will accept what is. I will face reality. I will correct those things that I can correct and accept those I cannot.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will improve my mind. I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration. I will not be a mental loafer.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will make a conscious effort to be agreeable. I will be kind and courteous to those who cross my path, and I'll not speak ill of others. I will improve my appearance, speak softly, and not interrupt when someone else is talking. Just for today, I will refrain from improving anybody but myself.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will do something positive to improve my health. If I'm a smoker, I'll quit. If I'm overweight, I will eat healthfully -- if only for today. And not only that, I will get off the couch and take a brisk walk, even if it's only around the block.
JUST FOR TODAY, I will gather the courage to do what is right and take the responsibility for my own actions.
The prayer of St. Francis (of which there are several versions) contains a powerful message:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope.
Grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
I just sat and thought about this article for a while. What if today we did in fact take our life one day at a time? Only tried to handle the things that were necessary for that day. What if just for today we tried to live just as Jesus did? What if just for today we tried to pour out everything we have to give? What if? That statement is waiting for us to take it, and finish the story for the day. Before we know it one day might be two, two days might be a week, a week might be a month, a month might be a year. We could literally transform our whole life, by a simple twenty-four hour approach.
Will you begin the twenty-four hour challenge today? We could find ourselves poured out before the Lord for the rest of our life. Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. 23They are new every morning
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