Life is meant to be lived one day at a time.
The Israelites discovered this when they were in the wilderness. God provided manna for them to eat, but this manna had to be collected and consumed on a daily basis. If they tried to conserve it, maggots appeared and it became inedible. (Ex 16:19-20) Only when the Sabbath was approaching did the manna last. On the sixth day, they collected twice as much and it did not stink or get maggots in it. (Ex 16:22-25) Similarly, Jesus taught his disciples to ask God to give ‘daily bread’. (Matt 6:11) We are not meant to live in such a way that we can survive without God’s provision and protection. Instead, we are called to live in daily dependence and trust and to heed His command to keep the Sabbath.
Most of us glimpse something of this daily recharging through products that have rechargeable batteries: mobile phones, tablets, Kindles and so on. A smartphone used throughout the day usually needs charging by the evening. We too need to learn to live in constant communion with the Lord. We need to be filled daily with His Spirit (Eph 5:18-20) and then need to give to others out of His provision.
It goes against our sinful natures to live in daily dependence. We prefer to run our own lives and spend an enormous amount of time fretting about the past or worrying about the future. The antidote to this is daily dependence and faith in a loving, powerful Father. A child has the gift of living in the present, rising each mornig with enthusiasm and vigour. We too need to learn the art of this daily trust.
“I won’t fear what tomorrow brings.
With each morning, I’ll rise and sing.
My God’s love will lead me through.
You are the peace in my troubled sea.” (“My Lighthouse”, Rend Collective)