Each Day by Max Lucado

[altya]

It's quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now I must make a choice. Because of Calvary, I'm free to choose. And so I choose.

I CHOOSE LOVE…

No occasion justifies hatred;
no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love.
Today I will love God and what God loves.

I CHOOSE JOY…

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance.
I will refuse the temptation to be cynical…
the tool of the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see
people as anything less than human beings,
created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as
anything less than an opportunity to see God.

I CHOOSE PEACE…

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.

I CHOOSE PATIENCE…

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world.
Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll
invite him to do so. Rather than complain that the
wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment
to pray. Instead of clenching my fist at new
assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.

I CHOOSE KINDNESS…

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone.
I will be kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to
the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.

I CHOOSE GOODNESS…

I will go without a dollar
before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked
before I will boast. I will confess before I will
accuse. I choose goodness.

I CHOOSE FAITHFULNESS…

Today I will keep my promises.
My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates
will not question my word. My wife will not
question my love. And my children will never fear
that their father will not come home.

I CHOOSE GENTLENESS…

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle.
If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise.
If I clench my fist, may it only be in prayer.
If I make a demand, may it only be of myself.

I am a spiritual being…
After this body is dead, my spirit will soar.
I refuse to let what will rot rule the eternal.
I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy.
I will be impassioned only by my faith.
I will be influenced only by God.
I will be taught only by Christ.
I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks.
If I fail, I will seek His grace.
And then, when this day is done,
I will place my head on my pillow
and rest.

 

[GraftMeIn]

Those are certainly some good words to live by, thanks for sharing them with us!

 

[fieldmouse3]

Good post!!!

 

[Blessed-one]

ya!!
thanks for sharing, it's a very good reminder.

 

[Gerry]

I probably should forgo my feelings here but I won't. I love Max Lucado, though he is condemned by the Church of Christ. Max preaches the uncompromized Word of God. I love this Devotional. Though I would dare to go one farther than Max. These "choices" are GREAT and it is awesome for those who have a choice. But the fact is the born again Christian is not given the option of choosing. These are requirements set forth in the Books Of St. John and I John, to name only two.

May all Christians make the choice to obey God's written Commands.

 

[GraftMeIn]

I understand what you're saying Gerry. I'm not familiar with Max Lucado, As a matter of fact I'm not familiar with what most out there are teaching others. I rely on reading my Bible and on the Holy Ghost as my study guide.

I guess in a way it all boils down to one choice, and that choice is Jesus, Once we have him, he places a desire in our hearts for all those other things.

 

[Gerry]

Yes GMI, that is what Max teaches. But it is as you say, it boils down to OUR choice. As J. Vernon was saying it doesn't matter so much what anyone writes in any book. It is God's Word that we need to be concerned about and not anyone else's opinion of what it says.

If our heart is right and open, The Holy Spirit will indeed guide us through it and reveal to us what we need for where we are.