“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication,
with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God”
– Philippians 4:6 –
If anyone had reason to worry it was Paul: disagreements in the church of Philippi and, possibly, nearing execution. Thus, he explained how to overcome worries. The word “concern” comes from the root “strangle.” Yes, concerns can strangle us because they stretch us in the opposite direction of hope.
Pastor Daniel Belvedere, a man of God just like Paul, was passionate about preaching the gospel and was an inspirational teacher of evangelism. He put passion “in my veins” for the salvation of people. He said that four things were needed in order to overcome worry:
- Have an action plan.
- Live the present wisely, one day at a time.
- Work with the inevitable.
- Trust and depend on the Lord.
Many song lyrics that are meaningful were born of human adversity. Lindsay Terry told the story of “One Day at a Time.” Marijohn Wilkin could play the piano by ear at the age of five. When she was fourteen, her father contracted cancer and died three years later. With pain and effort, she cared for her mother and successfully advanced in her university and music studies.
A short time after she got married, her pilot husband was killed during World War II. At the age of thirty-seven, she was one of the leading composers of the country music industry. She remarried, had a son, and wrote more than four hundred songs.
In the midst of acclaim and money, Marijohn stopped attending church and became an alcoholic. She tried to kill herself several times, but God, in His grace, saved her life. At the age of fifty-three, Matijohn wrote her most famous song: “One Day at a Time.” This composition is much more than a song; it is a prayer:
“Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
So for my sake teach me to take
One day at a time.”
This song quickly spread throughout the world. She had returned to the Lord. She was a faithful and happy Christian.
Although each day can bring seemingly insurmountable challenges,
always keep in mind that God will never leave us or abandon us.
Prepare for Heaven by living one day at a time.
Be blessed, my brethren…