One Day at a Time
A morning devotional to keep rising.
Good morning.
He's already here. Let's begin.
A daily rhythm to keep rising.
Start with breath.
Offer yourself to Him.
Good morning, God. I'm yours. Build something with me today. Use me. Free me from the part of me that always wants to run the show, so I can actually do what you're asking. And the stuff I keep getting wrong, the patterns I can't beat on my own, take them. Turn them into hope for somebody else who needs to see that change is possible. Amen.
Get into the Word.
Quiet your head.
Father, I'm here to listen. Quiet my head. Pull me out of the self-pity, the dishonesty, the angling for what I want. If I get agitated today, if I start spinning, if I can't decide what to do next, drop a thought in. Give me a nudge. Help me stop struggling. Let me relax into the truth that you're the one running this, not me. Show me my next step. Give me grace in how I take it. I don't want my will today. I want yours. Amen.
Sit with Him.
Plan your day with purpose.
Am I planning to:
The struggle ends when gratitude begins.
"Gratitude turns what we have into enough. It makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." Melody Beattie
Be sent.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace today. Where there's hate, send me with love. Where someone's been hurt, send me with forgiveness. Where people are fighting, send me with peace. Where there's a lie, send me with truth. Where there's doubt, send me with faith. Where someone's lost hope, send me with hope. Where it's dark, send me with light. Where there's sadness, send me with joy. Give me the guts to comfort instead of always needing comfort, to understand people instead of needing to be understood, to love instead of waiting around to be loved. Because that's how this actually works. I find myself when I forget myself. I get forgiven when I forgive. I come alive when I die to myself. Amen.
Hand Him your shortcomings.
God, I know my character defects have caused real damage. To me, to the people I love, to the life you're trying to build with me. I can't fix this stuff on my own. I've tried. I need you. Pull me deeper into trust. Deeper into surrender. I want you in my life in a new way today. Take my shortcomings. I'm trusting that in your hands they don't disappear, they get transformed. Anger becomes courage. Envy becomes empathy. Shame becomes grace. Do that work in me. Amen.
Keep these front and center.
Make any amends necessary, whenever possible.
Live well in how you eat, exercise, and the moment by moment choices you make.
Be creative.
Practice mindfulness and stay aware of your character defects.
Call your mentor, or talk to someone close, if you need to acknowledge some character defects.
You showed up.
That's the whole thing.
Progress, not perfection.
It works if you work it.
One day at a time.
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Today happened.
Was I...
Hand the day over.
Father, today happened. The good and the not so good. Take the selfishness, the dishonesty, the resentment, and the fear that crept in. Help me get honest with somebody about it soon. If I hurt anyone today, give me the guts to make it right quickly. Help me stop fighting. Stop wrestling with people and stop wrestling with circumstances I can't control. Show me where I can be useful tomorrow. Give me somebody to serve. Help me react like a man who trusts you, not cocky, not scared. How can I best serve you? Your will, not mine. Amen.
Rest now.
You made it through.
Sleep well.
Progress, not perfection.
Tomorrow's mercies are already waiting.
Keep tonight's entry
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Stop. Take a breath.
Father, I'm worked up right now. Help me stop. Remind me I already decided to let you be God of this. Give me the right thought, the right move. Save me from fear, anger, worry, self-pity, and any stupid decision I'm about to make. Your will, not mine. Amen.
