Perhaps I feel this way because I am getting older, and people are correct when they say that time flies as you age. Seems like Christmas and a new year roll around faster and faster each year. We wonder where did the time go, when perhaps we should be asking what we did with that time. Did we spend it wisely, or was it robotically spent going through the motions of one day after another in our safe routines with one day melting into the next until another year was spent with little to show for it.

This year I have made a decision to live life with more purpose instead of pressing the “wake-up, work, sleep, repeat” button each morning. This past week was my first time to put this into practice.  As always, upon awakening I Praise God for who He is. I ask God to use me in this world for His glory, and I thank for giving me another day to serve Him. I listen to my contemporary Christian music on KLOVE to keep my mind focusing on Christ, and I step into the day with my eyes fixed on Him, waiting for His direction.

When our minds are full of to-do lists, when we have obligated ourselves far beyond what we can sanely handle, the last thing we may notice in the course of a day is God’s placing an opportunity in front of us. This concept should be easy to grasp since we have just experienced a typically hectic holiday season! At this rate, all we are doing is trying to keep up with the pace we have imposed on ourselves which may often be attributed to a misalignment of priorities.

My suggestion is to do whatever it takes to slow your world down enough that you can readily sense a moment that God has prepared especially for you with the purpose, gifts, and talents He has given specifically to you to meet the occasion. Don’t be afraid to look because you don’t think you can handle it.  Ephesians 2:10 says this, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

When I look back over this past week, I can remember something that made each day memorable. The week was not a blur of survival. I was able to pray with and for people, I was prayed over, I encouraged, I felt encouraged, I laughed and I cried. I could see God in stand-out moments every day. Your day, your week, your life is always exponentially better when you see God working in you and through you.

I close with a song that speaks so well to this subject entitled “Thrive” by Casting Crowns. Listen closely to the words, and take them to heart. Live with intent and look for God to bless you and use you to bless others.  Make the upcoming week, months and year unforgettable! To God Be the Glory!