Today Is God's Gift

June 29, 2003

           Today is God’s gift.  How you use this day is up to you.  We all have the same amount of time and we can have a good day every day for the rest of our lives.  Sounds too good to be true?  Believe it.  You can make it happen.

            Many live in the past or in the future.  Many are haunted by past mistakes and past regrets.  I love 2 Corinthians 6:17:  “W hen someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside.  He is not the same any more.  A new life has begun!”  (TLB) 

            Have you had trouble?  Sorrow?  Did someone do you wrong?  We all have

been touched by hurt and pain, but we have a choice.  We don’t have to allow the past to rob us of the joy of today.  Neither do we have to rob today by worrying about tomorrow.  “Take therefore no thought for the morrow:  for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof”  (Matthew 6:34 KJV).

            I sometimes wonder if I went sailing along through life without any struggles

would I ever have any growth or maturity?  Would I ever acknowledge my dependence and need for God?

            Worry takes strength out of today and puts a heaviness on everyone around me.

Even the atmosphere seems contaminated by rehearsing calamity.  I have heard that “worriers brighten up a room by leaving it.”  I believe that.

            Every day can be wonderful.  Squeeze it and love it.  God has given you this day.  Please don’t waste it.

            Today is also a passing day.  It is going into the “tomb of time.”  You cannot save, loan or borrow time.  All you can do is use it.  Time is a precious commodity.  What will you do with it?

            Today is the day to enjoy and love your children.  They are growing up.

            Today is the time to give your wife flowers.

            Today is the day to appreciate a sunset, sunrise, or a rainbow.

            Today is the day to enjoy the smell of a summer rain, the smell of new mown hay or a freshly mowed lawn.  Not a blade of grass grows without God’s permission.

            Today is the day to express admiration to someone you have long admired.

            Maybe we can’t be happy all the time, but there is a difference in happiness and joy.  Happiness depends on circumstances.  Joy comes from knowing Jesus.  Problems do exist in this life and that is all the more reason to have the “joy of the Lord.”  It becomes our strength.  (Nehemiah 8:10)

            Whatever comes your way today, be joyful.  If there were no gains, there would be no losses.  If there were no crowns, there would be no crosses.  Nothing to conquer would make no conquerors. 

            We make the decision to be happy today.

            Let’s rejoice and be glad in it!   (Psalm 118:24 KJV)

            It is God’s gift to you, wrapped in love.