“Remember, I am with you always” – Matthew 28:20

Today, is a good day! It’s not a holiday, or a family celebration, and I have idea what it will bring. So far, the morning included a shower, breakfast, and some coffee, but I know it is a good day. You may wonder how I know and the answer is simple, Jesus is with me.

It is all too easy to let the external circumstances of our lives dictate our feelings and beliefs. We are often encouraged to believe that the quality of a day is based upon what is, or will be, happening. However, that is not the true test. There is something (someone) greater at work in the moments of our lives that matters far more than our schedules, our successes, or our obstacles.

On one of our international mission trips, I sat with a woman from the local area. It was clear that poverty was pervasive there, and there were numerous needs for everyone in the community. It was also obvious that the people were filled with great love and joy. I confess I was a little dumbfounded by the juxtaposition of those two realities, and apparently, it showed. My new friend looked at me and said, “You don’t get it do you?” I confessed that she was right. With that her smile grew and she replied, “We have everything, because we have Jesus!”

Life is full of challenges, numerous things that work to steal our joy, yet those things are not the final word. That privilege belongs to the one who says, “Behold, I make all things new.” Our creative God, who speaks things into existence, calls forth each day, and calls the creation “good,” promised, though Jesus, to be with us always.

So, as this day begins, it is not how we feel, or what awaits us that determines if this will be a good or bad day. Rather, it is the One who breathed into us the breath of life and is with us always that declares the goodness of today.

Today, is a good day, because, through Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit, God is with us. With that knowledge, we can all go forth and see the day for what it truly is.

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As I mentioned in my previous post, my schedule has seen a lot of transition recently, that led to more early morning time for devotion and prayer. In the brief time since these changes occurred, many positive results are showing up in my life. The list that follows is not comprehensive, but may give you inspiration to look for similar results in your devotional life.

Natural Blessings
Thankfully, the weather cooperated the past few weeks allowing me to enjoy my devotions and coffee on the deck. My meditation was accompanied by a chorus of birds and frequent visits by rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks. I now have a chipmunk and a catbird that like to sit in the deck and watch me read and pray.

Not only do these visitors amuse me, but, along with the rest of the natural beauty that surrounds me, they point to the awesome creativity of God. The power of spending time in contemplation while observing the diverse beauty of the natural world extends far beyond the ability of words to express. Such reflection forms an unspoken dialogue with God and with the world around me.

A Heavenly Perspective
Allowing time for conversation with God as the day begins helps to capture God’s perspective on the day ahead. As I open myself to more of God in my life, I increase my ability to see my life, and the context in which I live, from heaven’s viewpoint. This shapes my prayer and reflection, and then influences my actions as I move throughout the day.

Finding what I are looking for
Beginning early affords the opportunity to declare good things over the day ahead. The power of positive confession cannot be overstated. When I speak good things over my life, my circumstances, and my community, I join God in the creative power of blessing, I train myself to be a person of blessing, and I direct my mind and spirit to be looking for blessings around me. Like the ability to suddenly see the vehicle I purchased all around me, when I start my day focused on blessings, I will find what I am looking for throughout the day.

Listening Before the Noise Comes On
One of the things I appreciate the most is the ability to listen to God and to my heart before the chaos of the day creeps in. Once I’ve checked my email and social networks, the noise of the world makes it mor challenging to hear the still, small voice of God. It also makes it harder to be honest about my own thoughts and feelings. The stillness of the morning heightens my spiritual awareness throughout the day.

I hope these early reflections on the benefits of making time for holy meditation at the beginning of the day will inspire you to consider trying it for a season in your own life. I would love to hear your experiences and results.

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The context of this quote does speak of mocking God and reminds us to consider that our work will be shown for what it is. This is an important caution, for all of us have times when we are a little “plastic,” trying to hide our real feelings and motives behind a good image. We may fool some people at times, but God sees the heart and the fruit of our works will ultimately be seen for what it is.

This is a heavy truth, but it also points to a tremendous blessing. For if our poor choices yield a harvest of poor fruit, then it is also true that our good choices will yield a harvest of good fruit. When we sow good seed in our lives, our families and our ministries, we experience the blessings that naturally follow.

Someone once said, “Who you are today is the result of the choices you made yesterday.” If I do not like where I am at today; if I do not celebrate my thoughts, actions, or harvest in my life, I can immediately begin planting the seeds of change by sowing into what I dream for tomorrow. Not all seeds bear fruit overnight, and there may be weeds to uproot, but the conscious decision to sow the seeds of life that come from God will lead to the life abundant.

Today is a good day to examine the fruit of our lives. It is a good day to be honest about where we are. It is a good day to celebrate our harvest of life, and to sow new seed in the areas that are dead or dying. This is the day the Lord has made and in it we can choose to plant something good for our tomorrows.

The post What You Sow appeared first on Thinking Faith Cafe.

The psalmist wrote:

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me, even at night my heart instructs me. (Ps. 16:7)

When we orient our hearts toward the praise of God, and when we seek and receive the counsel of God, then even in the night our heart will lead us to a deeper understanding of God and his direction for our lives. Our active attention to the Lord makes the way for even the hours of rest to become moments of growth with God.

Recently, I was confined to the sofa for a while to keep my leg elevated due to a serious infection in the skin. My wife was busy caring for our son who was injured at work, so there was plenty of time by myself. I used that time to read some books on the Bible and foundational theology, to meditate on some Scripture and to enjoy some worship music I recently purchased. After just a few days, I found that I would awaken in the middle of the night with a praise song on my lips or a word of Scripture in my head. The time spent saturating myself in God during the day, led to praise even in the wee hours of the morning.

More importantly, God began to use the words I listened to and read, to speak to me about important issues in my life. Even as David once prayed, “search me and know me, O God,” the Word of the Lord began to search my heart. Many things I needed to see were revealed. Some were very comforting, while others were quite challenging, but all were meaningful and necessary.

When we make time through conscious effort to place our attention on God, and when we saturate ourselves in the truth of his Word, then our quiet moments can become times of great revelation, instruction and encouragement. The things we actively took in begin to bear fruit, unfolding the truth of God before us. Yes, we learn and grow during our active study and meditation, but when we fill our spirits with the things of God, even the passive moments can be full of revelation.

As you walk through this day, may your eyes and ears be open, and your spirit receptive to all that God is doing around you. May you actively seek God and soak in his truth. And tonight, while you rest, may the Holy Spirit speak to you through all that you have seen and heard that you may draw closer to God, know his great love for you, and discover more of the destiny he has in store for your future.

Be blessed in the day, and in the night.

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