I had an epiphany. One of the Merriam-Webster definitions of this word is: “a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something (2) an intuitive grasp of reality through something (such as an event) usually simple and striking (3): an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure.”1 I had one of those today – 1/30/24, the day I’m writing this devotional – and it hit me like a ton of bricks.
As the kids get off the bus in the mornings, I will tell them all, “Have a great day.” I repeat this several times as the bunch is leaving, making sure everyone close enough hears the words. I thought I was being encouraging. I wanted to start the kids with something that might lift them through the day. That was the intent.
When I said it today, like a bolt of lightning, a memory zapped me. There is a radio personality who always says at the end of the broadcast, “Make it a great day.” Have a great day vs. Make it a great day. What’s the difference?
When you think about the terms, telling them to have a great day means that I am wishing that everything is going to go their way. It’s a desire essentially for the day to cater to them. This is a wish to have a narcissistic day!
However, make it a great day means that you must take responsibility for how this day goes. You determine by your attitude and actions if the day is going to be great or not. There’s nobody to blame but yourself if you didn’t make the day great. To think that everything is going to go our way is a pipe dream. Instead, we need to acknowledge that things aren’t all going to go our way and we need to deal with it. Make a choice, a decision.
Epiphany!
Think about it. Do you want to have great day? Do you hope everything is going to go your way? Do you desire that this would be a conflict-free day? Are you wanting the heavens to open as a choir of angels sings and God’s blessings flow? Or do you set out to make the day great? How do I make the day great?
Consider the Scriptures!
Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Psalms 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we WILL rejoice and be glad in it.
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
Matthew 6:33-34 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (34) Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Philippians 4:4-8 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (5) Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. (6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Before we ever get out of bed and before our feet ever touch the ground, we are making choices as to the direction of our day. If the day goes crummy, we blame everyone and everything. But why didn’t we set out to MAKE it a great day?
These verses you just read are filled with commands. Whenever God gives a command, we are immediately faced with a choice. Will we obey or disobey? If we choose to obey the Lord, blessings will follow. If we choose to disobey, what do we think is going to happen? It’s not going to be a great day, is it?
So, like I’m saying to my bus kids, I say to you. Make it a great day and a great week. The choice is yours.
1https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/epiphany
