Embracing Each New Day

You will never have another today!

Every Morning Realization

Each morning, each new day is an opportunity for us to be formed more into the image of Christ. God gives us one day at a time to be lived in his presence, for his purpose, leaning into his power. Frederick Buechner in his book Wishful Thinking says,

Every morning you wake up to something that in all eternity never was before and never will be again. And the you that wakes up was never the same before and will never be the same again either.

Yet,so often we miss the actual opportunity of each day. Instead of focusing on the day's unique opportunity, we often focus on other areas. We can think about the mistakes we made in the past. Often, we relive, lament, and criticize ourselves. We go through mental gymnastics thinking about what we could have done differently. Stepping into a "woulda, coulda, shoulda" mindset is what we do. Or we can focus on the future. What is going to happen in our lives, in the lives of our loved ones, in our country, in the world? This usually takes us down the path of worry. “What if’s” can lead us down some very dark and depressing paths.

We can awaken, eat breakfast, and go about our entire day without realizing that every day is uniquely given to us by God. We forget that there has never been and never will be another today like today. Every new day becomes a yesterday - never to be recaptured or relived. There is no “Groundhog Day“ like the Bill Murray movie. There are no “do overs.” Once the clock strikes midnight, the day disappears forever. God created the earth to spin on its axis for day and night to occur, but no two days are the same. And with each sunrise, we have a unique opportunity to allow God to continue his great transformation of making us more like Jesus. I believe this is the motivation behind the Apostle Paul's writing…

So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. — Ephesians 5:15-16 NLT

How then do we make the most of each day? How are we to make the most of every opportunity? Here are seven tips for realizing the opportunities present in each day..

1. Realize, first and foremost, that God’s main desire for your life is to form you into the image of Jesus.

2. Realize that each day you live is a gift from God

3. Realize that every day is a series of unique opportunities

4. Realize that many opportunities are unplanned

5. Realize that all opportunities are not equal

6. Realize that distractions are often disguised opportunities

7. Be in a continual attitude of prayer, asking God to give you wisdom to recognize opportunities.

Below is a suggested morning declaration and prayer that I use to start each day. I encourage you to use them, adapt them, or develop your own in order to focus each new day.

Every Morning Declaration

Begin each day by saying to the Lord something like the following.

Lord, everything that this day will bring my way can be used by you to shape me into Christlikeness. THEREFORE, I open my heart and mind to the promise, purpose, presence, and power of Holy Spirit to guide me and to form me into the likeness of Jesus.

Every Morning Prayer

Father, this is the day you have made. 
Help me focus on you.
Let me focus on your majesty and greatness;
Let me focus on your love and grace;
Before I focus on anything else. 

You have created this day;
I have done nothing to bring it about.
I can only respond to the newness it brings.
Let my response be one of praise and adoration.
Let my response by rejoicing and thanksgiving.
Let my response be awe and wonder.
Let me be open to your shaping me
Into the image of Jesus.