Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
THE GIFT OF TODAY
This day, all His mercies are new.
This day ev’ry promise is true.
Father, help me to believe,
Give me the faith I need to know You
And trust You this day. This day.
Lord God, we want to pause now and say Thank You for this day. Help us acknowledge and celebrate Your continuing presence with us. May what we do and say enrich our journey of discipleship and reflect both Your great love for us and our love for You.
When we get caught up in the details of our lives (the demands and commitments, the habits and struggles, the medications and treatments, the relationships and the input from so many places), it is easy to forget that all we really have in this life is… this day. Whatever day it is, this is the day we have. We are promised no more than that, ever.
LORD, PLEASE HELP US TO PAUSE
May we say Thank You amid each of the “this days” we are given—for every one of them. They land in our lap like small jewels. Sometimes, that jewel of a day is shiny and filled with promise; sometimes, it feels decidedly dull or even dark. Whatever our days contain, each one always holds the gift of life with You—always.
When we are walking through seasons of loss, massive change, anxious wondering about what is coming next, or new beginnings (like the school year, a new job, a new diagnosis, or an uncertain invitation of some kind), it’s harder for us to take that pause, to hit the reset button and say, “Ah, the gift of this day! Thank you, Lord.”
Forgive us for the myriad ways we allow that gift to get buried beneath our lists, our worries, our illnesses, our obligations, our need to control outcomes, and our fears about the future.
Release us, O Lord, from all that and help us hear Your gentle invitation to trust, to follow, to be thankful, to accept with grace whatever each of our this days may bring us.
Guide us now and lead us into the truth You have for us to learn this day. May we open our hearts for Jesus’ sake, through the power of the Holy Spirit, because of the love of our Good Creator, amen.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION
- Could you pause right now and thank God for this day?
- The Psalmist encourages: I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1) Today, can you thank God for one such wonderful deed?
- Is there one small thing you can celebrate on a difficult day? Check out the printable Living a Life of Celebration for ideas.
- When you are sad and discouraged, try pouring out your heart to God in a prayer of lament using our printable Writing a Psalm of Lament, as a guide.
Diana R.G. Trautwein
Contributing Writer
Diana is a follower of Jesus, wife to Richard since 1965, mom to three adult children, blessed MIL to their three spouses, Nana to 8 grandkids ranging in age from 16-35. She has been a stay-at-home mom, a small business owner, a mid-life seminary student and TA, and a pastor for over 20 years. Diana is also a certified spiritual director.
Prayer of Examen
Beautiful in its simplicity, this ancient prayer of reflection helps refocus our hearts and minds. How often do we come to the end of a day and wonder where the time went or regret the way we handled a situation?
Recent Comments