Today Is Not Mine to Waste | Living Each Day with God (John 1:12)
- karenjuly1965
- Apr 29
- 6 min read
🔗 This devotion connects with a real moment:
🌿 Devotion — Today Is Not Mine to Waste
Scripture Focus:
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
— Psalm 118:24 (KJV)
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
— Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
“But as many as received him, to them gave
he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
— John 1:12 (KJV)
Real Life — Right Now
I woke up tired again.
And the first thought that came to me was this:
I get up… I go down… I crash… and I get up again.
But there is no room in my life to stay down.
Let me explain.
What I Used to Think About Time
When I was younger—married, working, raising kids—
life felt like it revolved around getting time.
Time off.
Time away.
Time to enjoy life.
We would plan days off around weekends,
and holidays were the best because they gave us more days strung together.
Most of that time was spent on the water—
with family, with friends—
and somehow, we always ran into someone we knew.
Even as a child, life felt more balanced.
School and summer felt almost equal—
like life had space to breathe.
Now looking back… I realize something:
Time always felt like something I needed more of.
I remember using my lunch break just to drive home, sit in the sun for ten minutes with my eyes closed, and think:
“If only I had more time.”
What God Is Showing Me Now
Now… it’s different.
Now my days are not about trying to get time for myself—
but about using the time God has already given me.
And here’s what I’m learning:
Time belongs to God.
We try to manipulate it.
Stretch it.
Control it.
But we don’t own it.
God does.
And somehow…
He gives us exactly what we need in each day.
Today Is a Gift —
Not a Phrase
“This is the day the Lord has made…”
That is not just a verse.
It’s an invitation.
“Let us rejoice…”
That means we have a choice.
Every single day, we are given:
A day to live
A day to believe
A day to align our mind with God
“Give us this day our daily bread…”
That means we don’t live off yesterday’s strength.
We need Him—today.
A Shift in Me
Recently, I adopted a senior dog.
And I’ll be honest—my first thought was:
I don’t want more responsibility.
But then I realized something…
With the Lord, everything changes.
And what I’ve learned through this is simple, but powerful:
✨ Acceptance — The Turning Point
Acceptance goes a long way.
When we stop fighting what is in front of us…
we become free to walk in what God has placed in front of us.
Acceptance is not giving up.
It’s giving in—to God.
When we accept the day, the moment, the responsibility…
We step into something greater than self.
Because serving self actually limits us.
But surrendering to God?
That’s where life opens up.
The Difference Between Then and Now
The difference between being a child and being an adult isn’t time.
It’s awareness.
As children, we lived freely in the moment.
As adults, we try to control the moment.
But God is calling us back—
not to childishness, but to dependence.
Life Eternal Starts Now
“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee…”
— John 17:3 (KJV)
Life eternal isn’t later.
It begins now—by knowing God.
Time is not the goal.
God is.
A Truth About the Heart
This morning, I realized something while talking with God:
We often want what we never had…
because we think it would have been easier.
But the Bible says:
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” — Jeremiah 17:9 (KJV)
Our heart can lie to us.
It can tell us:
“That would have been better”
“This is too hard”
“You need something else”
But God…
God knows the truth.
✨ Strength Begins Here —
Knowing Our Need
Our human condition is not that we lack strength.
Our problem is that we do not recognize our weakness and our need.
We are blessed—not because we are strong—
but when we know we are weak.
The world teaches us to be strong in ourselves.
But the truth is:
Without the Word…
Without the power of the Holy Spirit…
Without prayer…we can do nothing.
“I am the vine, ye are the branches…
for without me ye can do nothing.”
— John 15:5 (KJV)
Strength doesn’t come from trying harder.
It comes when something shifts in us—
when we finally recognize our weakness.
And instead of hiding it…
we bring it to Christ.
A person who recognizes their personal weakness and need
will be driven to Jesus.
And it is that person—
the one who knows they cannot do this on their own—
who becomes strong in Christ.
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)
This is where real strength begins.
Not in self.
But in surrender.
Truth Has a Name
Jesus said He is the truth.
And I think about when Pontius Pilate asked:
“What is truth?” — John 18:38
Isn’t that still the question today?
Because here’s the reality:
Our heart wants comfort.
It wants ease.
It wants control.
But truth calls us higher.
A Heart Set Apart
We are called to live differently.
Not chasing time…
but walking with the One who created it.
Not measuring life by what we get…
but by who we are becoming in Christ.
Set apart.
Not perfect.
But surrendered.
The Oil — A Heart Check
This came to me strong this morning:
How is my oil today?
Is my lamp full?
If Jesus came back today…
Would my heart be ready?
Would I be full of His Spirit?
Or running on empty?
“They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them…”
— Matthew 25:3 (KJV)
Sometimes we don’t need more time…
We need to trim the wick and refill the oil.
And God will help us do both.
Day by day.
Walk Wise
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.”
— Ephesians 5:15 (KJV)
Wise doesn’t mean perfect.
It means:
You know where your help comes from.
Final Thoughts — From My Heart
People chase what is “popular.”
But I have to ask:
Popular to who?
What really matters is this:
Am I part of the family of God?
And if I am…
What qualified me?
Jesus did.
Not time.
Not effort.
Not opinion.
Him.
The Greater Reward
The real reward isn’t found in getting more time.
It’s found in:
A surrendered heart
His righteousness working in us
His Spirit leading us
His life being lived through us
Today — Right Now
So
if today feels like:
“Just another day…”
Stop.
Look up.
Thank God you woke up.
This day is not wasted unless we refuse to see it.
Even the sun rising and setting—
That is a miracle.
A Call to Your Heart
Lift your chin.
God does send encouragement.
But we must choose to receive it.
We must take heart.
We must believe.
Closing Prayer
Father,
Thank You for today.
Not yesterday. Not tomorrow.
Today.
Teach me to stop striving for more time
and start living in the time You’ve given me.
Help me accept what is in front of me
and trust that You are in it.
Search my heart—because You alone know it.
Fill my lamp.
Renew my oil.
Help me walk wise, not foolish.
Let my life demonstrate Christ—
not perfectly, but truthfully.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
✨ What I’ve learned through overcoming in difficult moments is this—
So, if you feel stuck right now . . . you’re not stuck.
You’re growing. ✨
Love in Christ,
Karen
Hope in Today
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