McMinnville Seventh-day Adventist Church

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Start Your Day Here

“Police search for a motive in YouTube Shooting, China hits back at US tariffs, and MLK died 50 years ago today. Start your day here.” This is the first message from a popular news agency I read on my phone after waking up this morning. “Wow,” I thought. “Is this really how I want to start my day? Do I even have a choice? Have I subtly been duped into believing everything my phone tells me?”

How do you start your day? Who’s the first person to speak to you in the morning? Is it the guy on the TV morning show, a friend on Facebook, a stranger on YouTube, or your coffee cup? This is where Jesus’ own words give us some guidance: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness . . .” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV). What would happen if you took those words literally and started applying them in your own life starting tomorrow morning?

Imagine waking up and greeting the new day with “Thank you, Lord, for a new day. It’s going to be a good day!” instead of “Oh no, do I have to get up? It’s raining and miserable. I’m so tired and my head is killing me!” Imagine getting out of bed, washing your face, and then sitting at the kitchen table or in your favorite comfy chair with your drink of choice next to you and your Bible open on your lap. There you spend 10 to 20 minutes listening and talking to your best Friend before you start your day. NO television, NO radio, NO cell phone, NO computer, NO distractions! Just you and God, and you hear His voice say, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10 NIV).

I’m throwing out a challenge to you – no, God’s Spirit is throwing out the challenge. Make a decision. Bring a smile to God’s face. Start tomorrow morning. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier tonight. Get up 15 minutes earlier tomorrow, and visit with God. He will be there waiting for you. Before long, you will love your new habit so much, that you will cry out with the psalmist, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2a NIV).

I’m accepting the Spirit’s challenge. Are you joining me? Just imagine what that daily encounter would do to you!

- Pastor Jerry Joubert