One of the very essential truths that God wants every believer to learn is to wholly depend on Him every single day. It is a lesson he consistently taught the Israelites for about forty years in the wilderness. Let’s read Exodus 16:15-21.

When the Israelites saw it (manna), they said to each other, ‘What is it?’ For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, ‘It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Each one is to gather as much as he needs…’ The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some gathered little. And when they measured it by the omer, he who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one gathered as much as he needed. 

Pointedly, God miraculously provided food for his people in the wilderness but with a condition: each was to collect what was enough for a single day. Then Moses said to them, ‘No one is to keep any of it until morning.’ However some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them. Each morning everyone gathered as much as he needed (vv.19, 20). But some disobeyed and stockpiled for the following day. Unfortunately, it didn’t last; it had an expiry date of the same day!

Jesus also taught his disciples on the same (living one day at a time). In the Lord’s Prayer, the disciples are to pray, “Give us TODAY our daily bread”; in the same chapter (Matt. 6) the disciples are further instructed on the same subject.

Why should Christ’s disciples live each day at a time?

God knows what we need– Living one day at a time stems from the understanding that God knows what we need. Prayer is not a channel of furnishing God with information or list of our needs but a channel of expressing dependence on God. For sure, He knows what we need (Matt. 6: 31-34). He not only knows what you need but also when you need it. God knows our daily needs and he is in a daily business of ensuring that those needs are met.

Each day has enough trouble of its own– Mathew 6:34  shows us that each day has its own challenges, worries, disappointments, discouragements, and demands. But at the same time, each day has its own highs, joys, praises, and opportunities. Each day, we have our hands full.

Further, each day brings about newness. God’s mercies are new every morning, (Lam. 3: 22-23). Each day has its, new connections, new assignments, and new wonders. The Hebrew meaning of manna is “What is this?” Israelites woke up each morning collecting and wondering, “what is this?” (manna). Each day, in the life of a believer, presents an opportunity to marvel at God’s awesome deeds.

Although you may have many challenges to face, remember every single day brings about God’s sufficient grace and power to overcome. And I pray that this day God will surprise your life with good things.

There is enough for our need not for our greed –In the Exodus account, there are some people who disobeyed what God had said through Moses. They collected manna more than they needed for a day; but it never worked to their advantage.

Why did some people collect more than they were supposed to? It is apparent that they were driven by human greed. They had a selfish desire to have more and more for themselves. Gathering more today does not necessarily mean satisfaction or a secured tomorrow. Bringing together concern’s for tomorrow and today is a good recipe for worry. But God’s daily provision is sufficient for our need.

It is an expression of trust in God- To put this point in perspective, ponder on this: Why didn’t God rain manna that would be stocked for a whole year or so? I think one of the reason is that God was teaching his people to trust Him step by step. It is not an easy one. It is harder to walk by faith than by sight. Yet, trusting God is a daily aspect we have to learn and apply in our lives and commitments. God’s people must learn to surrender control and put trust in God and on his unfailing promises. The point is, the God who provided for my needs yesterday is the same Jehovah Jireh who can do it once again and in the future. God is the same yesterday, today and forever, Heb 13:8. And so, living one day at a time means walking by faith and not by sight, 2 Cor 5:7.

Read The Lord is my everything.

Read also one more night with the frogs