This is a phrase that we hear often and say to others regularly.
But have you thought about what makes your day great or not? If you haven’t determined the criteria for what a great day is, how will you know if you’ve had one?
To answer that question for myself, I reflected on my priorities and thought about how I wanted each day to look, regardless of outside factors or what items were on my to-do list.
At the end of the day, I want to be able to say that my efforts were God-honoring, that I was others-focused, that opportunities were seized, and that I approached my tasks with a determination to excel.
Focusing on the following five areas helps me to make better use of my time, effort and resources and to approach each day with the proper mindset.
In order to make them more memorable, I arranged an acronym. Here’s how we can make sure each day is great.
Honoring God is the very purpose of our lives, it must also be the focus of each day.
G – God Honoring
In addition to prioritizing time spent in prayer and Bible study, we honor God in our day by rejecting that which does not glorify Him. As followers of Christ, our first and most important calling is to honor the Lord our God in all that we do.
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
R — Remember and Relax
Know that God has ‘our back.’ And we do not have to be perfect in carrying out His plan. While we try to do our best, know that God can make our imperfection perfect.
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10
E – Enjoy the Day
‘Stop and smell the roses.’ Slow down when the day picks up speed. Be thankful throughout the day.
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
A — Ask for Direction
Ask God for direction for the day ahead Ask Him to make the path smooth and straight.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
T — Treat Others Well
Put others first and treat them as we would like to be treated.
“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:10
We know that in this life we will still have trials (John 16:33), and unfortunately adhering to the above items won’t magically change that. However, a helpful quotation reminds us that “it does not matter what happens to us, but our reaction to what happens to us is of vital importance.”
Keeping a diligent focus on these five areas helps us to be more proactive in having great days and makes us better prepared to react properly when we have bad ones.