The Gift of Today

What will you do with the gift of today?

The gift you hold in your hand?

Do you realise that every day is a gift from God? Every day, we make a choice as to how we will use our day. What we will fill our day with. How we will spend it. Did we just step over it while busy chasing around after our children? Did we step over it on our way to bettering our career? Did we step over it

while worrying over the future?

Today IS the future. What you do today has a great impact on your future. When we will fill our precious day with things of eternal value, it's like a bank up in Heaven receiving a deposit. Gaining interest.

Every day that we take for granted, is a day wasted.

We need God's wisdom each and every day to know how He would have us use our time. What does God want us to fill our day with? What is His plan for our day and how would He have our day ordered? God's ways are not our ways and it's good to remember that although we may have our day all planned out, God often has a different idea, a better idea, a 'bigger picture' idea that would have us totally change our busy schedule into

something that has eternal value.

I'm more guilty than anyone in not liking my little 'day plan' rearranged. But, I've found that when I let the Lord order my day, it turns out so much better than my pitiful little attempt at planning. If today is a gift from God,

shouldn't we let Him choose the gift?

In our pursuit of a healthier lifestyle, Dave and I have found that if we eat a hearty meal at the start of the day, we can go on the strength of that meal for hours. But, if we fill our bellies with 'fairy floss',

we are soon hungry and disappointed.

I see it as the same with our day. If we stop to fill our 'tank' in the morning, with God's Word and time spent with Him, we can go on that strength for hours, continually going back in our minds to what we learnt and read. We keep chewing it over throughout the day, gaining strength from His promises and wisdom from His Word. But, on the other hand, if we start our day by reading the news, or checking our emails first thing, we've started our day on fairy floss. Now, I LOVE fairy floss, but even I know that it doesn't sustain. No amount of 'fluff' is going to have the stickability

that the Word of God will have in your life.

So, as you start out your day, STOP and take time to listen to how God would have you use it. Remember that each and every day is a gift from God, that He has the right to take it away at any time. He is the giver of life.

Today is a gift from God. Let's use it for His glory.

In looking for the lyrics to a well known hymn

I came across this poem by C. T. Studd.

I think he sums it up very well.

Only one life, ’twill soon be past,

Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Two little lines I heard one day,
Traveling along life’s busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart,
And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.


Only one life, yes only one,
Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet,
And stand before His Judgement seat;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.
Only one life, the still small voice,
Gently pleads for a better choice;
Bidding me selfish aims to leave,
And to God’s holy will to cleave;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.


Only one life, a few brief years,
Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its clays I must fulfill,
living for self or in His will;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.


When this bright world would tempt me sore,
When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way,
Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.


Give me Father, a purpose deep,
In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e’er the strife,
Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.


Oh let my love with fervor burn,
And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone,
Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, “twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.


Only one life, yes only one,
Now let me say,”Thy will be done”;
And when at last I’ll hear the call,
I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;
Only one life,’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last.”

        Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
         Only what’s done for Christ will last.
          And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
     If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee.