I’ve had a great day today. And many things have helped to make it that way…
Sleeping in…
Sharing a fresh cup of coffee with my wife…
Dreaming about the future…
An afternoon outside…
Ice cream…
Relaxing…
The fresh, May afternoon breeze…
Writing a blog…
And, knowing I have a quiet evening ahead of me.
Now for some people, some of the things I listed that have made my day great would not be things that would have made up a great day for them. Regardless, it’s about making it…about doing and making choices that help grow greatness into your day.
Ever had a horrible day? And then at some point you experience something that begins to change it from being bad, to good…to even great? Maybe someone did something nice for you, or you got some unexpected surprise that changed everything. Ever had one of those so-so days? Where nothing seems exciting, nothing seems entertaining? And all you do is long for something to make it different, dare I say great?
I think there are days that will always be boring, and days that go badly if we don’t make the choice to make them great. Sounds almost silly to wake up each day and say, “I’m gonna choose to make this day great.” But, I think that in the moment of potential bad, or grief, or pain or boredom…we have to remember, especially at those times, is to start making choices that affect the bad, or the pain, so that it doesn’t stay that way, and, so that it can become better or even great. This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. [Ps. 118:24-25] Be glad? Be? It’s a choice…it’s our choice to be glad, to be great.
People say this phrase all the time, “have a good day.” We only attach the word great to the phrase when we’ve really experienced some great stuff. And sometimes, we think that its the chance to sleep in, or day-dreaming, or ice cream that makes our reality great. But is that true?
In high school I went to a football camp at a college where the head coach there had this amazing philosophy that for that last 12 years has had a profound affect on my life. I was going to be a freshman in high school when I first went to Coach Frosty’s football camp and on our first night at camp, Frosty shared with 800 plus high school guys that attitude is everything and that our choices determine our destiny. Coach Frosty then said “people don’t just have good days, it’s a choice, one they have to make.” Wait, I have a choice? My attitude, regardless the situation that I face, its my attitude and choice to respond to the situation that truly matters?
I too wanted to make my reality great in all I do, and in all I say. And beyond changing a phrase, this guy said I needed to change my heart. In front of several hundred people he flat out said that he doesn’t know anyone who can make their day great without God. It was as if all of a sudden my passion for God and my love for playing football surged together as I heard this football coach encourage me as a young guy, who was questioning my faith, to truly be a light of greatness to others.
See, apart of Christ, the sleeping in or sharing a fresh cup of coffee with my wife…an afternoon outside with ice cream, relaxing and experiencing the fresh, May afternoon breeze cannot be great. It’s in knowing Christ that makes all things better…that makes all things great.
Knowing the love of God is greatness…
Knowing that He has plans for you, great plans for you is amazing great…
I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God‘s Decree. “I’ll turn things around for you. I’ll bring you back... [Jeremiah 29]
It wasn’t just changing the greeting on my cell phone. It wasn’t just changing the the way I said goodbye to people. It was about my heart realizing that one great attitude can truly breed another great attitude, and hopefully in someone else. It was about embracing God with all that I had, with all that I am…so that, regardless of a current condition or popular fade, I would know my Savior and the greatness of living for Him.
And that’s my heart for others. I want them to know the greatness of the love of God. I want them to know the greatness of His plans for their lives. It’s a passion of mine to see people fall madly in love with Jesus and for them to find great ways to show the power and grace of God. I want to see people commit to great prayer lives. My dream and goal is to raise up leaders and believers who know their value and greatness of God and to know who great they are to the Lord and to then, will take that and share it with the world. Making their greatness evident. Catching on fire with a desire to make choices of surrender to God and serving Him on purpose.
I dare you to choose to make it a great day. Make it great by committing yourself to God and His way’s for your life. Make it great by surrendering your dreams and passions to the power of God and His passion for your life. Choose to make today great regardless of what mess you find yourself in. Be the leader out of the mess, and if you’ve created the mess…repent of it and invite our gracious Father to the mess, to allow His great love and mercy to truly fix it all, so that His greatness and power will be evident to all.
Make it a great day by inviting God into your life, into your heart, and then make it great by maintaining that connection with Him. Connect with Him through the Word. Through prayer. Connect with Him through music and His creation. Sleeping in, cups of fresh coffee, dreaming about the future, an afternoon outside and yes, even ice cream…they will all be that much greater when you choice to incorporate God in all of it.
He is the key to making it a great day. Nothing more, and, nothing less then Jesus Christ and His loving righteousness.
reflections of hope 
Amen Nick. Awesomely true! It’s HIS presence that makes everything Great. There is truly no Life without him. He is Life and will bring Abundance into the everyday when we open ourselves up to him and his spirit. Awesome!Rena N