In the Beginning of 2016
What if every day of 2016 began with a mental reminder of this verse? How would I view my day differently if I accepted God created it in the beginning before...
my eyes squeeze tighter to shut out the risen sun
my ear ignores the vibration of my silent alarm
my kitten leaps onto my chest and sticks his curious nose in my left nostril
my tastes buds, repulsed by my own morning breath, crave a caffeine kick
my big toe touches my yellow Lab's foot before mine hits the floor
and she asks me with her eyes,
"Are you going to get up
and do that thing you do
while I take my first morning nap?"
God did create me to be a creature of habit. He has blessed me with creatures of habit to remind me of my daily priorities. I'm not sure I need the routine kitten-nose-in-my-left-nostril blessing. Maybe God wanted to send a reminder to do that thing I do in a new way. Thankfully, He showed me in the old ways, too.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
Starting my day with spending time with Jesus and studying His Word prepares me for what God created in advance for me to do. Because if Creation was finished on the sixth day, I must believe He had today in mind. He had me in mind, too.
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3
I become as that tree planted by His stream of living water whenever I sit in His company, whenever I step into His Presence through meditating on His Word, through praying it back to Him. He has already determined the yield of my fruit in every season of my life. I may endure harsh conditions that threaten my level of production. But, that is my standard, not His. That my leaf does not whither, that I prosper, is His call.
Every day I must remember that He is still creating because I am not a finished product yet.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12 NASB
Every day I must shout with creation that anything I do is about His glory and never mine.
Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 NASB
But, none of this will be true unless I start every day with one thought in mind.