Take a moment to meditate on the beauty of the beginning of the day to the end.
No matter how many times you see it, there are few gorgeous sunrise and sunsets that won’t have us stop in our track for a photo. Where I come from, people would post photos of the sunset almost every evening in the same location – needless to say they always added a cheesy snapchat filter. My strict opinion is that God’s creation is too gorgeous for a cheesy snapchat filter, but I am here to write about more serious things.
“We try, when we wake, to lay the new day at God’s feet; before we have finished shaving, it becomes our day”.
CS Lewis : The Problem of Pain
C.S Lewis is one of my favorite writers. He writes of pure genuineness, humility, and wisdom. I remember first discovering his writings, they were not an easy read – yet neither is the Bible. Truthfully, I had to search into almost every thing he wrote, but that is what made his readings fun. You would read his words from your own perspective then later gain a more in depth perspective. This quote is from his book Problem of Pain. My initial tone when reading this statement was confliction – I sensed a want for human’s to do something with the inability or struggle to do so.
Of course, I had to look further into it. The context of the passage was very telling. Lewis writes in this passage of human tendencies in relevance to our daily actions, Lewis wrote:
for the first week [humans] still keeps the discharge of the vocation as his end, taking the pleasures and pains from God’s hand, as they came, as ‘accidents’. But in the second week he is beginning to ‘know the ropes.
Here, Lewis is accompanying his initial statement of human’s struggle for daily commitment. We wake up and we awake with the confidence in a clean slate, a new day. We drink our coffee, say our prayers, enjoy the sunrise and rest in peace.
We try, when we wake up, to lay the new day at God’s feet. The truth is that we do try, as believers, we awake each morning with joy and humility, ready to start the new day. We begin the day surrendering it to God.
Before we have finished shaving, it becomes our day. The submission of our day is fleeting as humans. Mundane routines and self fulfillment will soon begin to take over our day. What starts as the Lord’s day soon becomes our own without even realizing it. Maintaining surrender and spiritual focus in a day of worldly distractions is difficult for believers. We want so badly to walk into our purpose each day but have so many opportunities and hours from the time we wake up to do otherwise.
I say all of this out of reflection not judgment. There have been so many mornings where I laid it all at God’s feet in full surrender, then was in complete ignorance of his will for my day by sunset. To recognize our calling and walk in it, God cannot just have our morning and nights, he must have our days too. I know as college students, we want to shop, weight lift, and maybe study a little. Where in these daily routines can we fit glorifying God in?
I believe everyone has a unique purpose, but as stewards of Christ we have to recognize that we can never walk into that as long as we live our days as our own. No day is a waste to God he has intention with each day so as his followers we must too. There will be days where you just want to dress up and take selfies to post, but I am calling his followers to humble their hearts and ask themselves, is this what God wants for my day?
Lewis theme of writing was the pursuit of truth and meaning, so let us take notice of his claims on how we live our day. If a man so devoted to the Lord and his passions can recognize the significance of surrendering each day to the Lord, let us as well. There is meaning to doing so, it provides purpose and meaning to our life when we live it for something greater than ourselves. There have been some weekends and days where God was calling me to enjoy life, enjoy my loved ones, see the beautiful world he created and let it inspire me. There is purpose in that as well. Fall into submission, let the Lord have your heart then he will have your days.
How to Include God in your daily activities:
- Work towards a Greater Purpose: Let the money you make at your job, the people you talk to, the hobbies you pursue, all be targeted for a greater purpose then just self satisfaction.
- Write out Your Day: Make a visual note of your day and put ways to glorify God in it – then make it happen. Maybe donating, fasting, or time of meditation even if ten minutes.
- Live in the Present: Start everyday with the mindset of “what can I do more of today? ” be sober minded and live in the now.
- Pray: Always pray. Keep in constant communication with God and seek his guidance throughout the day.
Thank you for reading. xoxo
Laila