September 3, 2020

Brothers and Sisters,

(Lamentations 3:22-23)  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

It is only by the mercies of God that we are not consumed.  God in His holiness would be justified to wipe us all off the face of the earth because of man’s sinfulness, but God is faithful in allowing us to get up each morning.  Knowing this it should be a special blessing each morning when we open our eyes from a night of rest and the first thing on our heart and in our thoughts should be to offer thanksgiving to the Lord.  One of the first things I try to do each morning is to pray and thank the Lord for giving me another day.

Since the Lord has shown His mercy and faithfulness to us by extending to us another day, it is now up to each of us to choose how we are going to use this day.  Each day consists of 24 hours, 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds.  This provides us with another golden opportunity to live for Christ.  Every day we must choose how we’re going to spend the time God has given us.

Have you ever considered that every morning God has given you that day to use as you see fit.  He doesn’t twist our arms and make us do anything.  We can choose to live for Him or live for ourselves.  Once the day is spent we can never go back and do it over again.  We can’t save any of that time to use later.  Once the day is gone we are not allowed to go back and do it all over again.  I know there are times when we’ve all wanted to be able to go back and do some things over, but God won’t allow that to happen.  We must live with our mistakes and learn to not do them again  That is why the Apostle Paul made a choice to forget about those things in the past and press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:13)  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

This is how we should spend each day.  Pressing toward the prize.  I don’t know who wrote this little poem, but I came across it yesterday and it spoke to my heart.  I hope it will be a blessing to you this morning.

I have only just a minute,
Only sixty-seconds in it.
Didn’t seek it, didn’t choose it,
forced upon me, can’t refuse it.
But up to me just how I use it.
I must suffer if I lose it.
Give account if I abuse it.
Just a tiny little minute,
But eternity is in it.

Don’t go around saying, “Well, he has more time than I have.”  That’s wrong.  We all have the same amount of time.  Everybody has 24 hours a day.  The difference is how people use the time God has given them.  I want you to see when you get up every morning this time as a provided opportunity God wants you to awaken to.  God wants you to live for Him and not for yourself.  My dear friend, how are you planning to use those 24 hours today?

Bro. Rick

P.S.  I have an appointment early in the morning, so I won’t be sending out the morning devotion tomorrow.  I hope to see you over the weekend.  God Bless and Keep Safe!!