Daily Devotions - Today is the Day

Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:14 NIV
10 Whatever exists has already been named, and what humanity is has been known; no one can contend with someone who is stronger. 11 The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone? 12 For who knows what is good for a person in life, during the few and meaningless days they pass through like a shadow? Who can tell them what will happen under the sun after they are gone?

Wisdom
7 A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. 2 It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. 3 Frustration is better than laughter because a sad face is good for the heart. 4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure. 5 It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the song of fools. 6 Like the crackling of thorns under the pot, so is the laughter of fools. This too is meaningless. 7 Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart. 8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. 9 Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 10 Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?” For it is not wise to ask such questions. 11 Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun. 12 Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves those who have it. 13 Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? 14 When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.

 

-- As compared to dwelling in the past or longing for the future, how much do you live in the present?

 

Life is a mystery. Each day is new. Yesterday is past and cannot be changed. Dwelling on the hurts of yesterday only burdens my heart but cannot undo what has already happened. Tomorrow is unknown but to You. I can plan for what I think will happen but my future is in Your hands and can change in a moment. Today is the gift that I am opening right now. Let me encounter today with Your wisdom. I ask that I will remember what I do today without regret and refrain from anything today that could generate negative consequences for tomorrow. Help me to guard my words so that I do not grumble, get angry, or say hurtful things. Protect me from pride and corruption. Keep me from worry about what may or may not occur in the future by trusting in Your faithfulness. Lord, help me to be patient, kind, and cheerful today. Assist me to live today with contentment and gratitude. Guide me to make the most out of opportunities to do good today.  Come to my aid as I strive to serve Your cause with sincerity.  Inspire me to appreciate every breath, take pleasure in the beauty of Your nature, respond with Your love to the people around me, and celebrate my hope in Your promise of salvation. Let me live according to Your will for today. Lord, today is a day that You have given me. Let me rejoice and be glad. Amen