When I was in middle school, a Broadway musical came out that I loved. My young English teacher was so enthused about the play that she went through the hassles and work to take her entire class to downtown Boston to see Godspell.

“Day by Day” was the album’s radio hit. The lyrics come from a prayer ascribed to the 13th-century English bishop Saint Richard of Chichester:

Day by day,
Dear Lord, three things I pray:
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
Day by day.

It’s a prayer that’s worthy of repeating.

The title of that song reminded me of something I always wrestle with – living in the moment each day and not worrying about what tomorrow holds.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:25-27, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life — whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?”

And in verse 34, Jesus sums it up…

“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”

May you and I rest in the knowledge that God cares for us.

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Paul Merrill writes here every first Friday.

Image is fair use.