How To Spend Each Day With God # 1

How To Spend Each Day With God # 1

A holy life is inclined to be made easier, when we know the usual sequence and method of our duties - with everything falling into its proper place. Therefore, I shall give some brief directions for spending each day in a holy manner.

SLEEP

Measure the time of your sleep appropriately so that you do not waste your precious morning hours sluggishly in your bed. Let the time of your sleep be matched to your health and labor, and not to slothful pleasure.

FIRST THOUGHTS

Let God have your first awaking thoughts; lift up your hearts to Him reverently and thankfully for the rest enjoyed the night before, and cast yourself upon Him for the day which follows.

Familiarize yourself so consistently to this that your conscience may check you when common thoughts shall first intrude. Think of the mercy of a night's rest and of how many that have spent that night in hell; how many in prison; how many a cold, hard lodgings; how many suffering from agonizing pains and sickness, weary of their beds and of their lives.

Think of how many souls were that night called from their bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and think how quickly days and nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will  come! Observe that which is lacking in the preparedness of your soul for such a time and seek it without delay.

PRAYER

Let prayer be yourself alone (or with your partner) take place before the collective prayer of the family. If possible let it be first, before any work of the day.

FAMILY WORSHIP

Let family worship be performed consistently and at a time when it is most likely for the family to be free of interruptions.

ULTIMATE PURPOSE

Remember your ultimate purpose, and when you set yourself to your day's work or approach any activity in the world, let HOLINESS TO THE LORD be written upon your hearts in all that you do. Do no activity which you cannot entitle God to, and truly say that He set you about it - and do nothing in the world for any other ultimate purpose than to please, glorify and enjoy Him. "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31).

DILIGENCE IN YOUR CALLING

Follow the tasks of your calling carefully and diligently. Thus:

1. You will show that you are not sluggish and servants to your flesh, and you will further the putting to death of all the fleshly lusts and desires that are fed by ease and idleness.

2. You will keep out idle thoughts from your mind, that swarm in the minds of idle persons.

3. You will not lose precious time, something that idle persons are daily guilty of.

4. You will be in a way of obedience to God when the slothful are in constant sins of omission.

5.  You may have more time to spend in holy duties if you follow your occupation diligently. Idle people have no time for praying and reading, because they lose time by loitering at their work.

6. You may expect God's blessing and comfortable provision for both yourself and your families.

7. It may also encourage the health of your body which will increase its competence for the service of your soul.

TEMPTATIONS AND THINGS THAT CORRUPT

Be thoroughly acquainted with your besetting temptations and the things that may corrupt you - and watch against them all day long. You should watch especially the most dangerous of the things that corrupt, and those temptations that either your company or business will unavoidably lay before you.

Watch against the master sins of unbelief, hypocrisy, selfishness, pride, flesh-pleasing and the excessive love of earthly things. Take care against being drawn into earthly-mindedness and excessive cares, or covetous designs for rising in the world, under the pretense of diligence in your calling.

In all your your interactions with others, be vigilant against selfishness, injustice or uncharitableness. Watch against the temptation of idle talking, anger. Maintain that modesty and cleanness of speech that purity require. If you converse with flatterers - be on your guard against swelling pride. At first these things will be very difficult, while sin has any strength in you, but once you have grasped a continual awareness of the poisonous danger of any one of these sins, your heart will readily and easily avoid them.

MEDITATION

When alone, improve the time in practical and beneficial meditations. Meditate upon the infinite goodness and perfections of God; Christ and redemption; heaven and how unworthy you are of going there; and how you deserve eternal misery in hell.

THE ONLY MOTIVE

Whatever you are doing, in company or alone, do it all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31). Otherwise, it is unacceptable to God.

~Richard Baxter~

(continued with # 2)