Just for Today
Lord, for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray;
Keep me, my God, from stain of sin just for today.
Help me to labor earnestly and duly pray;
Let me be kind in word and deed, Father, today.
Let me no wrong or idle word unthinking say;
Set Thou a seal upon my lips through all today.
Let me in season, Lord, be grave, in season gay;
Let me be faithful to Thy grace, dear Lord, today.
And if, today, this life of mine should ebb away,
Give me Thy sacrament divine, Father, today.
So for tomorrow and its needs I do not pray;
Still keep me, guide me, love me, Lord, through each day.
I found this particular hymn in The Cokesbury Worship Hymnal, copyright 1938. It is not one that I was familiar with, but I found it’s words and story interesting. Similar to the hymn “An Evening Prayer,” a Hymn of the week from the past, this song could be called “A Morning Prayer” or “A Prayer for Today.” The author attribution in the hymnal was E. R. Wilberforce, but I found out through my research that this name was actually a pseudonym. The author was a lady named Sybil Partridge. She had given the words to a visiting friend, but requested that the words not be shown to anyone else until her death. I found it interesting this great song about “today” was requested not to be published until “tomorrow.” I wonder if there were some people that missed out on the blessing of hearing/singing these great words because she didn’t want these words to be seen “today.” I also found it interesting that a hymnal published 70+ years ago, in the “yesterday,” could minister to me “today.” Isn’t that how God works though? He knows our past, present and future. He was working in our “yesterdays” preparing us for “today.” He promises to be with us in our “tomorrows,” but is giving us grace for “today.” I pray, today, that this hymn will be a reminder to you that God is calling you to live for Him today. To follow His leading, today. To heed the Spirit’s call, today.
Couple of comments on the lyrics:
- “Idle word unthinking say” – I learned many things from Dr. Jay McCluskey while attending North Cleveland Baptist Church. This hymn lyric reminded me of an acronym he gave the congregation when preaching about how we speak to or about one another. The acronym is “T-H-I-N-K.” The letters represent questions to ask yourself before you say something to someone or about someone. Each question should be answered in the affirmative before we speak. Here’s what the acronym stands for:
“T” – Is it true?
“H” – Is it helpful?
“I” – Is it important?
“N” – Is it necessary?
“K” – Is it kind?
This hymn reminds me that too often I say things without “THINK”ing. My words may be true, but aren’t necessary or kind. What a reminder to pray for the Spirit’s guidance with our tongues – every day.
- “tomorrow and it’s needs I do not pray” – In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to us about tomorrow. In Matthew 6, He said “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” The Lord provides for our daily provisions. The Lord provides grace for each day. Tomorrow will take care of itself. We should be a people that live in the “today.”
My son Tyler likes to show me funny t-shirt sayings or slogans. One of my favorites is a saying he showed me a couple of years ago. It reads “Procrastinators Unite…..Tomorrow.” It is a funny phrase, but the reality of a procrastinating personality. One who puts off what should be done today. So, is there something the Lord is calling you to do – today? Is there a “to-do” He has given you that keeps getting bumped until “tomorrow?” I pray that we are not a procrastinating people that will follow His leading – tomorrow. But that we will recognize that He is speaking to us each and every day. And that we recognize He will provide grace for today….just for today.