Living Your Best Days

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24 ESV).

Two days in a row this verse popped up in something I was reading. At the time, I was feeling overwhelmed by everything I had to do, much of which couldn’t be cut from my list. Seeing this verse reminded me to focus only on the day at hand and the task right in front of me.

It’s human nature to want instantaneous results. When we decide we want change, we want it now! True and lasting change, however, is most often a day-by-day process, and that fact can be a difficult pill to swallow. When we set goals, we want to see immediate progress. When we start exercising again, we want those ten pounds gone after the first day (seems only fair). We don’t have the patience to wait for results. We’re easily discouraged and give up. Our thinking is the goal isn’t worth the effort because the effort will take too long.

I have a bad habit of not finishing what I’ve started. It drives me crazy that I do this! I think part of my problem is that I set myself up for failure. I overlook the day-to-day commitment required to get to the end goal. And I usually inflate the end goal to something that may not be realistically attainable. I make a great start, but then when life gets in the way, the process doesn’t go smoothly, or I’m nowhere near obtaining the goal I set for myself, I tend to give up.

At the beginning of last year, I read Jon Acuff’s book Finish (which I’m happy to say I did finish). Acuff relates plenty of great advice for completing your goals. One solution he offers is to cut your goal in half. When you achieve the first half, then go for the second half. By cutting the goal in half, you’ve made it more attainable and less overwhelming. Little by little you’ll reach it. Definitely dream big, but chase your dream with small steps.

“Living your best life” is a common phrase that floats around social media. I think we should narrow the focus to “living your best day.” Whatever our goals or plans, we need to start with today. Social media can be a hindrance to achieving goals because all we see is the finished product. We usually don’t see all the hard work that goes into achieving results. We need to remember that most social media is filtered in more ways than one.

Now that January has arrived, I’m sure your social media feed is overflowing with goals, resolutions, and words for the year. I have made a few resolutions for myself this year. In the past I have made resolutions and not kept them, focused on a word for the year, and just eschewed resolutions all together. I have found that I need resolutions or goals if I want to change something in my life. I need a plan and finish line to focus on. However, more important than the resolutions is the perspective. We’re never going to have it all, do it all, or be it all. We weren’t designed to function that way.

We must take life day by day. Otherwise we’ll be overcome with stress, worry, or anxiety. Give each day your all. Rejoice in the day because the Lord has made it, and then search out the opportunities he gives you for that day.

Whatever, goals or aspirations you have in this new year don’t let your end goal overwhelm you. You can do this! Ask yourself what you can do today as a step toward your goal. Don’t worry about missing yesterday’s mark or what tomorrow will bring; let yourself steep in the present. What can you do today?

In Matthew 6, Jesus is giving various instructions for life such as how to give, how to pray, and how to fast. His final instructions in Matthew 6 admonish us not to be anxious and tell us how to live every day and to live each day as its own: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you. Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:33-34 CSB).

I challenge you this new year to put away social media for larger and larger chunks of time and instead think about what you want to accomplish, about what you think the Lord is calling you to do. Seek God first. Then look at only today, today, and look at tomorrow, tomorrow.

Dana Herndon is a writer, blogger, and middle school teacher. She and her husband live in Georgia with their three children. In addition to teaching and writing, Dana loves to read, paddle board, and sometimes run. She blogs about faith, family, and enjoying the everyday life at danaherndon.com.

Photograph © Plush Design Studio, used with permission