Friday, July 25, 2008

The Blessing of Today

Erma Bombeck shared in Redbook (October,1992) a great insight of appreciating what we have today even at the worst of times, “An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, "I don't know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!" The kid is right.”

Another story of how to appreciate what we have each day is the story of R.C. Chapman, a devout Christian, was asked how he was feeling. "I'm burdened this morning!" was his reply. But his happy countenance contradicted his words. So the questioner exclaimed in surprise, "Are you really burdened, Mr. Chapman?" "Yes, but it's a wonderful burden--it's an overabundance of blessings for which I cannot find enough time or words to express my gratitude!" Seeing the puzzled look on the face of his friend, Chapman added with a smile, "I am referring to Psalm 68:19, which fully describes my condition. In that verse the Father in heaven reminds us that He 'daily loads us with benefits.'"

Lamentations 3:22-23 declares, “Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (NIV) Wow! What a profound declaration of God’s truth that each of us needs to be aware of. Knowing that we have been given a fresh start each day is an important fact to be appreciated greatly. Therefore, we must not allow the past things to infiltrate it or the future worries to invade it.

I find that when we allow so many things to fill up our day, I discovered that no one is able to complete any of it anyway. Instead, disappointment and despair sets in at the end of the day. We are designed to handle certain levels of burden and anything beyond are detrimental to our health and living. Many have bombarded their day with things of yesterday and things of tomorrow that the business of today is lost. It is sad to see a person who can’t value what the present offers.

Just look below how we spent the 24 hour period we have been given daily:

8 hours - spent in sleep

8 hours - spent working

8 hours - miscellaneous activities.

Knowing this would give us a clearer view of how does our day goes. It is God that provided us this limit as stated in Genesis 1:14, “And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years.” (NIV) What a glorious truth to know that God has done this for us. Yet it was given for a purpose. I believe that it should be spent being thankful for a new day. Though we have unfinished tasks the day before, bringing them the day after robs us of the blessings released for the day. Let me share some specific actions for you to do:

  1. Always begin your day with prayer of thanksgiving for a new day that God provides.
  2. Speak and declare that something good is going to happen.
  3. Believe that God will provide a way to escape from all the challenges that may come your way.
  4. Be cool and always smile for it is a new day to enjoy.
  5. Always end your day with a prayer and be ready for another day.

Try this and you’ll see that though the circumstances may not change but your attitude did and you have become a better person for doing so. Someone might say, but how about those in prison or facing imminent death, would this apply? I’ll share the answers next time…..

Let’s talk again!