Daily Affirmations - Day 4 - What Shall I Cry? - Seize Today
- Alisa B.
- 20 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Day 4: Seize today
“All people are like grass, and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are grass. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:6-8).
Sovereign Lord whose word endures forever, You have given us, in Your perfect wisdom, an earthly life that is only a brief span— a mere handbreadth (Psalm 39:5). But You created us with a plan and a purpose. Show us Your ways, teach us Your paths (Psalm 25:4).
Teach us to pray like the psalmist, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is” (Psalm 39:4)— not so that we can be perpetually morbid, but that we could honor You with our days.
Moses, the man of God, put it in perspective as he prayed: Our days... quickly pass and we fly away... teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:10-12).
Father, You sent Your Son to give us life to the full— abundant life (John 10:10)— now, and in eternity. Help us to seize today. Before the grass withers and the flowers fall, help us to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16).
In these evil days, in this world of trouble and strife, may we make the most of every opportunity to sow kindness, grace, mercy, hope, comfort, love. For Jesus' sake, and in His great name, Amen.
Let the grace of God in us produce the light of good works. And let Divine consolations put gladness into our hearts, and a lustre upon our countenances.
The work of our hands, establish Thou it; and, in order to that, establish us in it. Instead of wasting our precious, fleeting days in pursuing fancies, which leave the possessors for ever poor, let us seek the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance in heaven.
Let us pray that the work of the Holy Spirit may appear in converting our hearts, and that the beauty of holiness may be seen in our conduct.
~ Matthew Henry
Morning dawns: arise, arise!
Christian, stand and seize the prize
Of a day unmarred, untrod,
Fresh new seeds and unturned sod.
God’s hand holds it, strong and kind,
Yesterday all left behind;
As clear shining after rain,
Comes the morning: swell the strain—
God is in today!
Lift your heart and lift your eyes;
See God’s finger in the skies,
Softly brushing gentle hues,
Setting diamonds in the dews.
Do you hear th’ unspoken call?
Rise, and give today your all!
Gird your armor in its place;
To your Captain lift your face.
God is in today!
Christian, rise while yet ’tis day!
While the dews on green leaves sway;
Frail grass withers, flowers fade,
Down to dust the tree is laid.
Like a disappearing breath,
Morning ages on to death;
Seize today! ’Twill not last long;
Are you weak? Your God is strong!
God is in today!
~ Sarah K. Wagner, 2014
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