Day by Day

Hymn: Day by Day:

"Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.
He, whose heart is kind beyond all measure,
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day the Lord Himself is near me,
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear and cheer me,
He whose name is Counsellor and Pow'r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
'As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,'
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then, in every tribulation,
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith's sweet consolation,
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E'er to take, as from a father's hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till with Christ the Lord I stand."



Scripture: 1 Peter 5:6-11
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Thought:
In a sermon*, I once heard that humbling one's self is worked out through the action of "casting all your care". Personally when I cast all my thoughts, fears, anxieties, etc on the Lord I am humbled because I have nothing left to hold onto but Him. I make myself trust Him to work all things out for my good. There is nothing that I can do on my own; I must believe. And this process is daily. I wish I could cast everything onto Him and really, really mean it for a months time or even a week! But I find that my flesh and my heart are so deceitfully wicked and I cannot carry my own cares for even a day let alone a week. I pray that this hymn "Day by Day" will encourage you as well to remember that He has promised to be near those who are humble and broken, and His nearness is a treasure that is far more beautiful that being able to take care of things on your own.

*http://www.yourchurch.com/sermon/pray-or-youll-become-proud/