One Day at a Time

DCC Devotionals: One Day at a Time

Scripture:
“Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
—Ephesians 4:31-32

Devotional Message:

The start of a new year often feels like standing at the base of a towering mountain. There’s so much to do, so many changes to make, and endless goals to achieve. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and defeated before you even begin.

But God doesn’t call us to carry the burden of everything at once. Instead, He asks us to take life one day at a time. In Matthew 6:34, Jesus reminds us not to worry about tomorrow, because today has enough challenges of its own. He promises grace and strength for each moment, encouraging us to rely on Him step by step.

Ephesians 4:31-32 provides a beautiful guide for walking through this season with the right heart. It challenges us to set aside bitterness, anger, and negativity and instead embrace kindness, forgiveness, and tenderheartedness. And this doesn’t only apply to others—it applies to ourselves.

As you navigate the new year, be kind to yourself. Celebrate small victories, give yourself grace for setbacks, and trust that God is leading you through. Extend that same kindness and forgiveness to others. You never know what burdens they are carrying, and your tenderness might be the encouragement they need to keep moving forward.

Reflection Questions:
1.What is one small step you can focus on today to ease the overwhelm of the new year?
2.How can you practice kindness and forgiveness toward yourself as you adjust to new routines?
3.In what ways can you reflect God’s love by showing kindness to others around you?

Application:
•Prioritize Daily Steps: Instead of focusing on all your goals at once, choose one specific task or area to work on today.
•Practice Kindness: Speak kindly to yourself. Celebrate progress and offer yourself the same grace God extends to you.
•Extend Forgiveness: If you find yourself frustrated with someone, pause and choose forgiveness. Remember that God forgave you freely.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to take this new year one day at a time. Teach me to release bitterness, anger, and frustration and fill my heart with kindness, tenderness, and forgiveness. Remind me that Your strength is sufficient for today and that You are guiding me step by step. Help me to reflect Your love to those around me. Amen.

Selah Moment:

Spend a quiet moment reflecting on this question: What is one way I can trust God more fully today as I take my next step? Let His peace fill your heart as you lean on Him for guidance.