Beginning the Day with God

Richard Hollerman

How do you begin your day?  Do you push the “snooze” button on your alarm clock and roll over for a few minutes, only to have the clock buzz again before you are ready?  Some people push the button three or four times before they regretfully and reluctantly climb out of bed to meet the “daily grind”!  Is this the way you want to greet another day that God has graciously given to you?

How much better to wake up by the clock, or—better yet—allow your “inner clock” to wake you up about the correct time of rising.  Begin the day with God!  Acknowledge His presence with you through the night, praise Him for His greatness and holiness and love, confess your sins to Him, and ask for His power to work in you throughout the day.  Acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and express your desire to walk with Him through the day’s activities.

Can you really say, with the psalmist, “This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24)?  Can you honestly exclaim, “I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1)?  Why not acknowledge His presence when you awake and call on Him for Him to work in your life throughout the day?

We know that not everyone is a “morning” person, although this can be learned if you work on it.  (Check the section on this website under “Time Use” for some suggestions, including one on changing from being a “night person” to being a “morning person.”)  But it will bring glory to God and be a blessing to yourself (and those who know you) if you can start the day with a better and more positive attitude and outlook.

With this in mind, you might want to print off the following portion (use some of the beautiful stationery that is now available) and use it when you awake.  We recently gave it to one who thought that it would be helpful in her own life.  You may even want to kneel at your bed and go over the following affirmations and commitments, putting the statements in the form of prayer to the Lord.  Commit the day to God for His glory and honor!

Beginning the Day

with God

• ·      Devote the day to God
• ·      Ask Jesus to work through you today and to live His life through you
• ·      Ask for God’s wisdom, power, patience, truth and love
• ·      Deliberately place your anxieties and burdens on the Lord
• ·      Remember that you will be victorious through Christ
• ·      Remember that you will overcome the world, the flesh, and Satan
• ·      Be filled with the Holy Spirit of God
• ·      Add the fruit of the Spirit, the Christlike attributes to your life
• ·      Commit your time, talents, and opportunities to Jesus Christ
• ·      Keep a heavenly focus and seek first God’s kingdom at all times
• ·      Work faster and more efficiently, doing what needs to be done rather than attempted to do a “perfect” job·     
• ·      Be a duck—let the criticism flow off your back, knowing that God is your judge, not people
• ·      Focus on what you can do and not what you can’t do or don’t have time to do
• ·      Don’t look at “competition” or “criticism” but remember that you are responsible to God Himself
• ·      Don’t compare your talents and accomplishments with others
• ·      Deliberately fear God and refuse to fear your fellow-workers or management
• ·      Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you
• ·      Treat others as you would like to be treated
• ·      Devote yourself to love God, your spouse, your children, and all people
• ·      Quote God’s Word when appropriate in every circumstance
• ·      Meditate and think through the meaning of God’s Word
• ·      Find spiritual refreshment by lifting your heart in prayer to God
• ·      Look forward to Jesus’ glorious and gracious return for you