Choose Well!

This morning as I watched the sun rise from my little quiet time corner, I thanked God for the gift of a new day. I thanked Him for the gift of LIFE. I was reminded of the scripture in James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows.”

I’ve experienced how easy it is to be overwhelmed by the bad news that we are often bombarded with in the media and news reports, but I have seen the value of developing a grateful heart in the midst of all of this. I guess it has to do with what I choose to focus on. I am not suggesting we have an ostrich mentality – keeping our heads in the sand and ignoring the realities of this life. However, I have noticed that what I am focused on will affect how I feel, and this will affect the way I speak and act.

As I watched the sun come up over another day, I had no idea how the day would unfold, what challenges I would face, or who the people were that I would encounter along my day, but God knew all of that. He added another day to my life because He had purpose for me for this day. Whatever may have transpired the day before, whatever mistakes I made or difficulties I faced the day before, was behind me and inaccessible for me today. Even the ongoing effects of the day before would need fresh perspective and new mercy from God to handle today.

Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT) says, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Every morning God’s mercies are new for us. We get a brand new day with brand new opportunities to walk with purpose, love unconditionally, and choose to find the moments for gratitude in our day, even when we are walking a difficult road. Gratitude is a choice, and embracing the gift of life is a choice. Let’s choose well!