— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
One of the prayers that has always intrigued and encouraged me is a beautiful poem of Daniel O’Donnell
One day at a time sweet Jesus
Daniel O’Donnell
That’s all I’m asking of you
Just give me the strength to do everyday What I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord, help me today, show me the way One day at a time.
It is when we learn to trust in the divine plan and purpose of the Lord that we learn to submit ourselves totally to God’s divine will. It is a fact that God has a plan, a master plan in each of our lives. The reason why we are called ‘master pieces of God’ is because of the intimate care to detail that God invests in each of our lives. In Jeremiah 29:11 we are clearly told “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Yes, God has a plan, a plan for our lives.
There are five important elements that we should be aware of in this prayer.
One, a total dependence in God. This dependence will take away anxiety from our lives and give us a calm heart. We know that God is in control, God will lead us. Whatever happens our prayer is only that give us strength to go each day. Thinking too much into the future might not be helpful in some cases. Life is so fragile that it could take twists at any moment. The best thing to do is to trust in the lord- to trust and obey.
The second important aspect of this prayer is our understanding that our plans, preparations and dreams need not always be the best in our lives. God has better plans. As we read in the scripture, plans that are good for our future, plans that are filled with hope, plans that are good for humanity.
Thirdly we must realize that as we submit ourselves to God’s plan it is far beyond our personal interest or our personal gains that are at stake. God can use our lives to be the light in areas of darkness, to bring hope to people in despair, to be channels of love in places of hatred, to be peace makers in areas of conflict. Just allow God to work in us. Like the clay in the hands of the potter, just be available, just be submitting, just be humble, just allow God to act in and through you.
Fourthly, we understand that our dreams are limited but God’s plans are bigger and eternal. Or life could be having eternal significance in the lives of many others if we are able to understand and submit ourselves to the great purposes of our God. All we pray is one step Lord, one step. There is not much meaning in wading time regretting or rejoicing in what happened yesterday. There is no meaning in being anxious about tomorrow. All that you can do is hold on to God’s hands and walk each step in God’s ways, in the pathways of God which are the best we could ever imagine.
And finally, be assured that when you give your hand in the hands of God there is nothing better that can happen in your life. All your worry about the past vanishes, all your anxiety about the future vanishes. You just learn to trust. And in that trust is hope and in that trust is love and in that trust is a wonderful relationship of companionship of walking together, totally with the one who knows what is best in our lives. It gives inexplicable strength to face the storms of life and a clear focus on each moment of our present. Knowing fully well that the eternal future is secure in the hands of the divine, we can happily take one step at a time.
Friends let us all learn to pray…… One step at a time sweet Jesus. That’s all I am asking from you.
Molly Catherine
The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.
Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.
We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.
Freiburg Anglican Church 