Perhaps the most important question we can ask ourselves each day is, “How will I make this day count for God’s purposes?” What if we each would start our mornings by asking that question? Before the coffee, before the shower, even before our feet hit the floor, we should be asking what Christ would have us do in the next twenty-four hours. How could we most look like Jesus as we go throughout our day? I wonder how different our lives might look if we would implement this small discipline. Indeed, consider how the world might be transformed if we would all live each day with such intentionality.
We all plan our vacations, time off, entertainment, and other self-serving endeavors. Some people meticulously plan their careers and their lives. But how many of us have ever bothered to plan how we will live out the mission of Jesus in our lives? Most people reading this have chosen to follow Him; they have dedicated their lives to serving Christ. Yet how is it we’ve never sat down and figured out how we’re going to go about doing that? A relationship with God is collaboration, a cosmic dance meant to be lived out in union with one another. I believe we all should be playing a significant role in how that plays out in our lives.
Since God has personally gifted each of us with a unique combination of passions, skills, and talents, wouldn’t it make sense to figure out how we could best use these things to further His mission and bring Him glory? I don’t find anywhere in scripture where it says our job is to sit around and wait for some sort of divine revelation to inspire us to movement. In fact the last command Jesus gave to His disciples was “Go!” (Matthew28:19) We should be taking His message out to the whole world, teaching and demonstrating the love of God and pointing people to Jesus for their salvation. We can’t accomplish this well without first determining how we best can play our role.
By starting each day asking how we will serve Jesus orients us to action. We can purposefully watch throughout our day for opportunities to serve others and to demonstrate the love and humility of Christ. Before rolling out of bed, try thinking through all the interactions you have planned for the rest of the day. How can you bring Jesus into each conversation, each meeting, and every errand? Life never happens in a vacuum. Every person you encounter brings an opportunity to tell them about what Jesus is doing in your life and what He could do in theirs. Before your day begins, determine how you will show love to each person with whom you come into contact. We tend to not do what we don’t plan. We all need a game plan. Ask God to show you what should be in yours. Live each day intentionally for Him.