Have a good day
Notes
Transcript
Text: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matt. 6:34 NIV).
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25–34
Introduction
Every day an interesting chain of events happen. The people we meet will usually say “have a nice day” as we leave them. We will usually say “have a nice day” back to them.
The courteous expression “Have a good day” becomes obvious. It is a good expression. The more I think about it, the more I recognized that while several people tell me to have a good day, no one has ever told me how to have a good day.
Our lives are lived in various time segments—years, months, weeks, days. Each day is divided into hours, minutes, and seconds. Learning to manage our time is one of the prominent priorities of life. Our Lord wants us to fill each day with meaning.
Let us see how to have a good day.
I. Begin each day with God.
A. Good beginnings are important. This fact is evident in many areas of life.
a. Students need to get a solid start in school.
b. Preachers need to have effective beginnings for their sermons.
c. Television programs need to have good leads.
B. Beginning each day with God will align the day with the prominent priority.
a. When we consider the Lord first, the rest of the day will be considered in the light of his will.
C. Beginning the day with God may require a variety of exercises.
a. Bible reading, prayer and contemplative thinking are good ways to start the day.
D. Beginning each day with God will have positive benefits.
a. Our relationship with the Lord will be strengthened. The happenings of our day will be placed in proper perspective, and we will gain direction for the living of the day.
II. Maintain healthy interpersonal relationships.
A. Relationships with people are inevitable occurrences of the day.
a. Our lives involve contact and interaction with people. But at times we may want to get away from people.
i. This desire represents a legitimate occasional need but is not permanently possible.
B. Relationships may be enhanced.
a. There are several reasons Christians may have healthy interpersonal relationships.
i. First, believers are to respect each individual as a person of importance.
ii. Second, believers are to listen carefully to others.
iii. Third, Christians are to seek the highest good for others.
b. This gesture is what is meant by loving one another.
C. Reconcile ruptured relationships.
a. Closely related to enhancing relationships is repairing relationships.
b. We need to settle grudges and eliminate our desire for revenge.
“If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:23–24 NIV).
III. Watch your conversation.
A. Talking comprises a large part of our day.
a. Have you ever thought about how many words you say in the course of a single day?
b. We cannot live through a day without speaking.
B. Words have the power of influence.
a. Words directed to us have the power either to bless us or to curse us.
b. Someone may speak an encouraging word to us, and it will enhance our day. Or someone may speak a derogatory word to us, and it will ruin our day.
c. Words directed to us have amazing power to affect our day.
d. Likewise, the words we speak can affect a person for either good or bad.
C. Our conversation needs to be controlled.
a. We need to listen carefully to the critical words of others as well as to their complimentary words, filtering out the true from the false.
b. Let us also guard our conversation and say only things that will build others up.
c. The Holy Spirit must be in control of our conversation.
IV. Fill your mind with good thoughts.
A. Thoughts are inevitable occurrences during the course of the day.
a. Ideas come to our minds from unexplainable origins.
b. Human beings cannot prevent thoughts from coming to mind.
c. C.S Lewis wrote a great book called “The Screwtape letters.” Screwtape advises his nephew, Wormwood, on how best to tempt a British man, called only “the Patient,” into sin and, eventually, into Hell.
B. Thoughts have the possibility of lodging in our lives.
a. Good thoughts will lead to good actions.
b. Bad thoughts will lead to immoral actions.
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he” (Prov. 23:7).
C. Thoughts can be controlled.
a. The apostle Paul gives us these words of wisdom concerning our thought life:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).
V. Engage in meaningful activities.
A. Working for our livelihood is a part of most days.
“Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work” (Ex. 20:9).
a. Filling one’s days with good work is commendable.
b. To have a good day would mean that you enjoy your work and strive to do your best.
B. To have a good day, one day of each week needs to be devoted to worship.
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You must not do any work—you, your son or daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. (Ex. 20:10).
a. When we give one day of each week to worship, the other days will be enhanced.
C. A meaningful day will be filled with significant activities.
a. In addition to giving your best to your work, serve others in need. Then you will have a good day.
Conclusion
You can have a good day.
A. The best day is when you open your life to Jesus Christ.
a. Then subsequent days will be more meaningful.
b. Each day can be enhanced by beginning with God, by maintaining healthy relationships, by guarding your conversation, by thinking good thoughts, and by engaging in meaningful activities.
Now, have a good day!