How will you choose to live today? As we begin the day, we will come face to face with a series of circumstances to confront and choices to make. That’s the nature of life. How we handle these daily occurrences is a testament to our character and our relationship with God. Here are five things to consider as you prepare to start your day:
1. Start the day off the right way, with scripture reading, and prayer. Immerse yourself in the life-giving words of God, and drink deeply from the well of living water. Open your heart before the Lord and enjoy an intimate fellowship with the Father. Let God prepare your heart, mind, and soul to handle the day set before you. (Matthew 7:7-11)
2. Approach the day with the right priorities. You may have to deal with some hard situations today, or you may find yourself confronted with things you don’t like or things you don’t want to do or things you don’t agree with. The priorities that you establish, as your boundary for the day, will likely determine how you react and respond. As believers, we need to remember the priority of the Gospel. Ask yourself these questions, “What must I do, what must I change, what must I give up, and what decisions must I make in order to keep the Gospel the priority in my life?” (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)
3. Live to serve. Jesus gave us a very clear, undeniable example of how we are to serve one another when he washed the disciple’s feet (John 13:12-15). He also gave the command to go and do likewise. We must start our day with the mindset of service. How will you love and serve others today?
4. Make peace, not war. Jesus prayed to the Father that his followers, those who believe, would be one as Jesus and the Father are one (John 17). As brothers and sisters in Christ, choose this day to love one another, to forgive one another, to build one another up, and to live for the good of one another. Encouraging one another to love and to do good works in this world (Hebrews 10:24-25). Consider how you can help unify and build up the body of Christ today.
5. Make war, not peace. We cannot allow sin to be tolerated in our lives. We don’t make peace with sin, we must make war. Confess your sins and consider how you might be tempted today. How will you respond? (2 Peter 1:3-11) We are to be people who are characterized by holiness and godliness (2 Peter 3:11).
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24
