DAY 

God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.

The day is Yours, the night also is Yours; You have prepared the light and the sun.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.

This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Ge 1:5; Ps 74:16, 84:10, 96:2, 118:24 (NKJV)

Today… what are we doing today that really matters tomorrow?  What is being accomplished now that will affect the future?  What is being achieved, at this moment, that will be remembered when our numbered days are over?  What does this day truly hold???

How long is a day???  Is the moment of measurement 24 hours in length, or do we measure the occurrence from the morning sunrise to evening sunset, or even from one sunset to the next???  The definition can be based on how the term is used within the sentence.  Whatever the sense of this word, a “day” is to express a course of measured time. 

Time is a boundary, a boundary of events dividing the temporal from the eternal.  To God, there is no border line of time as He is omnipresent.  His eternal existence was there before time began, and His everlasting presence will never cease (Ps 90:2; Isa 44:6, Jn 17:5, 24; Eph 1:4; 1 Pt 1:20; Rev 1:8, 22:13).  For us, we must travel through each day, one second at a time, until our temporal life meets with death and the door is opened to our eternity.  For now, as the saying goes, we must “take one day at a time…”

Interestingly, as this devotional was being prepared, I was blessed with the opportunity to listen to the Air Force Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (Maj. Gen) Baldwin, as he spoke at the National Prayer Observance at Incirlik Air Base.  The theme was 24 (as in 24 hours in a day), and he shared a powerful message asking the question “How do we ‘number’ our days?”

In short, his answers were:

“Number” 1: Give it to God.
                Don’t be afraid to give it to the One Who said “Let there be light (and created the “day”).

“Number” 2: Live it for others.
                An unselfish act to all by living this day so that it will bring benefit to others instead of yourself.

Number 2 reminds me of the childhood song, “Jesus, and others, and you, what a wonderful way to spell Joy.  J is for Jesus, He has first place, O is for others we meet place to place… put yourself third and spell JOY!”

“Number” 3: Trust God for the results.

 “So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom.” (Ps 90:12 NAS)

This day belongs to the Lord (Ps 74:16), for He has made it (Gen 1:1-2:4, Ps 118:24).  What we do today should be done in honor for our God.  We can easily be caught up with the humdrum routines from day to day, and we can loose focus on what really counts.  As Chaplin Baldwin stated, Give this day to God, Live it for Christ and others (putting Christ first in you thoughts, speech, and actions, and showing this by putting the needs of others above your own wants and desires), then trust God for the results.

“Every day is important to God.  Make it count.”
-- Chaplain (Maj. Gen) Baldwin

“…Who then is willing to consecrate himself this day to the LORD?"

“O God, You have taught me from my youth; And to this day I declare Your wondrous works.”

"Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great…”

(1Ch 29:5; Ps 71:17; Ac 26:22 NKJV)