Words Of Encouragement To Start The Day (Thursday 04/14/2011)

What Is This Day For?

Romans 8:36 (Amplified Bible)

³⁶Even as it is written, For Thy sake we are put to death all the day long; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter.

            One of the most rewarding things that has happened to me in my life was becoming a parent.  Before I became a mom, I was giving but I had a lot of moments of selfishness and self-serving behavior.  I thought and worried a lot of about me…How things affected me, how I wanted my life to be, how things benefited me or not. I think you get the jest.  But the minute I found out I was pregnant, it was as if a light switch went on in my heart and in my mind and I approached life differently.  I looked at how I needed to care for myself for the benefit of the baby, what he might need to come home in, what I would do to make his room, wonderful for him. My mind seemed as if it no longer was my own, but it was turned over to this little one growing inside of me. It was a time in my life that parts of me were willingly subdued to someone other than myself.  That now there was something greater than I and it was the little one that was developing internally.
            For many of us, that feeling of surrender has not come yet, that time in our lives where something captured us and caused us to surrender.  Although we have confessed the Lord we have not chosen today to wholly submit to Him, in a way that identifies Him as Lord and Master.  Each day as we wake up, we should understand that it is only mercy that has ushered in a new day, and given us another day to get it straight or correct things we have done wrong.  You see our will and or thoughts can be a powerful entity that keep us from totally and sincerely laying down our lives in committed service to God.  We often see nothing wrong with how we are living, what we are doing or how it may affect anyone else.  But we should realize that with the mercy that is bestowed upon us daily that we have a responsibility to live in a manner that shows forth the attributes of Christ and the love that is His in us.  Each day is an opportunity to get it tight and right. It is an opportunity for us to prove how much we love God and want to do His will.  The Bible in John 15:13, that says, “No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.”  We sing songs like we are friends of God and that He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, but yet we won’t lay down our life for Christ as He laid down his life for us.  I don’t mean killing yourself, but I do mean allowing the desires of the flesh to die to the things of the spirit.
            I know this may sound like a strange way to start a day, but when you rise, think to yourself, this is a good day to die.  Die to selfishness, pride, willful disobedience, self-serving behaviors and paths that exalt us over God.  Tell yourself it is great day to become a sacrifice one that willingly chooses to become a ransom for the cause of Christ, and the reward of Heaven.  I have said before dead men don’t talk…this just simply means that the will of God becomes the most important element instead of our own.  When we come to this place we determine within ourselves that it is better to be a blessing than be blessed and that it is better that I am looked at as a one that has given all to the cause of Christ! Today is the day to set things right and to get things in order, let God be Glorified and everything else be placed in down for the count!