Lyrics
Verse 1
I'm only human I'm just a man
Help me to believe in what I could be and all that I am
Show me the stairway that I have to climb
Lord for my sake teach me to take one day at a time.
Chorus
One day at a time sweet Jesus that's all I'm asking from you
Give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine
So for my sake teach me to take one day at a time.
Verse 2
Do you remember when you walked among men
Well Jesus you know if you're looking below it's worse now than then
Pushing and shoving crowding my mind
So for my sake teach me to take one day at a time.
Chorus
One day at a time sweet Jesus that's all I'm asking from you
Give me the strength to do everyday what I have to do
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus and tomorrow may never be mine
So for my sake teach me to take one day at a time.
Outro
Yes, just for my sake teach me to take one day at a time...
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
The lyrics are a short prayer built around one request: to face life a single day at a time. The speaker begins by admitting to being "only human" and asks Jesus for help to believe in what they could become, and to be shown the stairway that has to be climbed. The plain wording keeps the focus on limits rather than achievement.
The chorus narrows the request further. "Yesterday's gone" and tomorrow "may never be mine," so strength is asked only for what each day requires. A later verse recalls Jesus walking among people and observes that the present world feels harder, with pressure and crowding filling the mind. Each verse returns to the same closing plea, "teach me to take one day at a time."
The theme is close to Jesus' words in Matthew 6:34 about not worrying over tomorrow, and to the request for daily bread in Matthew 6:11, though the song does not quote either passage directly.
Related Scripture
- Matthew 6:34 Jesus tells listeners not to worry about tomorrow, matching the prayer to take one day at a time.
- Matthew 6:11 The model prayer asks for daily bread, an image of receiving what is needed for the day.
- Lamentations 3:22-23 Describes God's compassions as new every morning, fitting the daily request for strength.