It's
quiet. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still
black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming. In a few
moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track
with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn
will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of
solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the
human race. The refuge of the early morning will be
invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.
For
the next twelve hours i will be exposed to the day's
demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of
calvary, i'm free to choose. And so I choose.
I
choose LOVE...
No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants
bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what
God loves.
I
choose JOY...
I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I
will refuse the temptation to be cynical...the tool of
the lazy thinker. I will refuse to see people as anything
less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to
see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to
see God.
I
choose PEACE...
I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I
choose PATIENCE...
I will look the inconveniences of the world. Instead of
cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do
so. Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I
will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching
my fists on new assignments, I will face them with joy
and courage.
I
choose KINDNESS...
I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to
the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind,
for such is how God has treated me.
I
choose GOODNESS...
I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one.
I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess
before i will accuse. I choose goodness.
I
choose FAITHFULNESS...
Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret
their trust. My associates will not question my word. My
wife will not question my love. And My children will
never fear that their father will not come home.
I
choose GENTLENESS...
Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I
raise my voice may it be only in praise. If i clench my
fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may
it be only of myself.
I
choose SELF-CONTROL...
I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my
spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the
eternal. I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by
my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be
taught only by christ. I choose self-control.
LOVE,
JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS,
GENTLENESS, and SELF-CONTROL. To these I commit my day.
If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek
his grace. And then, when the day is done, I will place
my head on my pillow and rest.--
Max Lucado
When God Whispers Your Name
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