JOSIAH—THIS DAY
Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
James 4:13-15 (ESV)
One of the greatest threats to our faithfulness is the phrase, one day. We should change our mindset from one day to this day. If you live your life in the past, you will lose it, and you aren't promised tomorrow. This is the day. This is the moment you must choose. This is the moment the Lord has given you.
The other day, I was running from God, not wanting to deal with some things, or, said another way, wanting to choose my will over His. I knew something was separating me from God. I felt a distance creeping in. I thought, I will do the right thing in a few days. The next day, I woke up and felt like God was saying to me, choose this day whom you will serve. There will be a point when you have said one day so much that your heart becomes hard or distant. There will be a day when you have said one day enough that you will have chosen the other thing. You don't have to be perfect, but there must be a commitment to God. A repentance to turn towards Him. Honestly, it's sometimes the hardest thing to do. We are double-minded, so we try to live out our wills and God's will as long as we can, but there is a moment when God will say, Choose this day.
What have you been putting off in your relationship with God? What have you been saying one day to? One day, I will spend more time with God. One day, I will take a step to invite someone to church. One day, I will serve. One day, I will tithe. Whatever that thing is, be faithful today, this day. There are a million reasons why today isn't the right day, but I've learned there is never a right day. Today is the day to be faithful to whatever God has placed inside your heart. Today is the day to return to Him, and once you commit fully to Him, you will know in your heart that it's just the beginning. That God will begin to subtly but surely grow you into something mighty for Him. Remember, God is in the business of taking small things and making them mighty for Him. The Bible isn't full of all stars; it's just filled with people who are available. People who said this day I will serve the Lord. So, what are you waiting for? Draw near to the Lord. Surrender whatever He has placed on your heart!
APPLICATION: Choose this day to serve God.
PRAYER: Ask God to help you lay down and surrender everything at His feet! Ask Him to give you strength and passion to follow Him!
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?