Make Use Of Today

7 Jan

“Don’t be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of.”  ~Charles Richards

There is a LOT of truth to today’s quote.  How many people squander days and make them useless?  Employers see that happen all the time.  Employees might complain about their very long week and the number of hours that they had to work and yet, as the employer judges the amount of work actually generated, might think that everyone only worked half of the week.

The product that we get out of a day is directly proportional to the amount of time and energy we put into the work.  We cannot expect to achieve any gain if we do nothing about it.  That is true of our daily jobs and that is also true of our spiritual lives.

We cannot expect to be “incredibly holy” if all we do is sit there and say “Okay, Jesus.  Let ‘er rip!”  No.  We have to work at our spiritual lives.  We have to make time for conversation with God.  We must read the stories of our faith in scripture as well as other spiritual readings.  We must spend time in reflection as well as in service to God’s people.  All of these things are the backbone of the spiritual benefit for which we long.  We cannot possibly expect to feel close to God if we do not make time for Him.

If, on the other hand, we make time to be with God, there is no limit to what could happen to us and for us.  Our days, our lives, would be filled with countless blessings.  Do not let the calendar dictate what you do or do not accomplish.  Do not let days get away from you because you will “always have more time.”  Treat each day as the gift that it is.  Put your most into the day.  And see what comes from it.

We have a “bag of tools” from which to choose: prayer, reflection, good works, volunteer service.  Use those tools today.  Employ them fully.  Build the Kingdom of God in your midst and allow others to benefit from your faith and love of the Lord.

FAITH ACTION:  Make full use of today by praying and performing a corporal or spiritual work of mercy.