For the past few weeks, I have been experiencing my faith in Jesus in a brand new way. When I feel anxiety set in or begin to question God’s goodness, I simply stop and think about today.

Today, I am feeling well, I have the energy to work, I get to talk with friends and family on the phone, I can enjoy being outside and walking my dog. Today, I have enough food to eat and enough money to pay my bills. Today, there are no decisions to make about health care or cancer. This day, today, is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Throughout the past several months, I have had numerous people tell me that I would need to take things one day at a time. And it’s really good advice, actually. But it’s not good advice because of some sort of group consensus or because some people have lived long enough to know there’s wisdom there.

Living life one day at a time is good advice because Jesus says it is. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus says, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” This is His summary of a discussion about worry. He says that none of us can add a day to her life through worry. In fact, none of us can put food on the table or clothes in the closet through worry either. Jesus doesn’t want any of these things to consume our thoughts. Instead, Jesus says we should spend our energy and thought on eternal matters, and even those with only a thought for today, because beyond that, we have no guarantees.

So this has become my habit, a discipline I have to work at several times a day. When I wonder what will happen if my next blood test comes back with higher numbers or if I start feeling bad again and can’t work, I have to think about today. Trusting Jesus for His presence with me in this day.

The discipline of today does not exempt me from the thoughts of the past or present which the Bible also calls me to, however. Proverbs 6:6-8 tells me that there is wisdom in looking to the ant who prepares for the future by gathering food; Ephesians 2:11-13 calls us to remember our lives before Christ so that we can properly acknowledge His sacrifice for us. But living for today DOES keep me from the folly of dwelling on past sins (Philippians 3:12-14) or the hubris of believing I am in control of my future (James 4:13-17).

The days ahead will certainly contain all kinds of ups and downs — most likely the kinds of ups and downs I can’t even imagine right now. But I don’t have to concern myself with the days ahead. Today I will live in this day that has been given. Today, that is enough.