The sun dances across the green leaves, reflecting its daybreak splendor. Small white flits of insects play in their morning revelry. Birds sing their sunrise praises from amongst the treetops while their timbres echo down, enveloping the land below. “Sing praises to God! Worship our creator! Sing of his goodness, his beauty! He cares!” they seem to call. Each with its own melody of praise, yet not at all discordant, but harmonious and rich – just like our worship must sound to God.
The peacefulness of the morning is like no other – my favorite time of day. Refreshed and renewed, new opportunities await. How will I spend my day? “…the days are evil,” the Apostle Paul warns reframing our vision. “Tune in and focus differently; look through this lens,” he invites. “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15-16 NIV).
So, how will I spend my day? Will I spend it thoughtlessly, going through the grind of the day, acting out of habit and routine? We all know the ease of letting our auto-pilot take over doing what we always do. For me it includes jump in the shower, get the kids ready, make breakfast, clean-up, put out the bickering sibling fires, and run the kids from one activity to another, and so on… I must say, I get rather sick of this routine.
“So God what am I missing? Let me take a painful look at all the missed opportunities…the missed conversations, the simple pleasures.” Did I laugh today? How representative of God was I toward my children, my husband? Was I encouraging and appreciative, or was I short and hurried? Did I invest in someone’s life who doesn’t know Christ, in the prayer that through our relationship (not coercion) she will come to know the hope, peace, and love I know as a Jesus-follower? Or did I rush and miss an opportunity?
Sometimes my short-comings are painfully obvious. “Oh, God and children and husband, please forgive me for the things done and the things left undone!”
Seek God and make the most of every chance I get. That’s what I’m after! I don’t want to live thoughtlessly, but instead live intentionally in a life-giving way in community with others and with our Father – who never disappoints!
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