Do we approach each day as special? As a day to intentionally make a difference for God and for good? Or do we float through life in relative indifference? One great prayer to pray each day is “God, may I be a blessing. May I live with intentionality today and make a difference for You and bless others.” As someone once said, “Today will never come again. Be a blessing. Be a friend. Encourage someone. Take time to care. Let your words heal, and not wound.” How can we make today matter? How can we not miss opportunities to bless others?
Joshua 10:1-15 tells the story of an extraordinary day like no other in history. In fact, vs 14 reads, “There has never been a day like it before or since.” Notice 3 things about this day:
- This day was a special day.
Joshua and the Israelites had a specific job to do. They were to defend their new ally and defeat the enemy. The five Kings of the Amorites had waged war on Gibeon and Gibeon requested Israel’s help. Joshua 10:6 says, “The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: ‘Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.’” So, Joshua led the Israelites into battle to aid Gibeon. They marched all night and took the armies by surprise (vs. 9). There was fighting, swords, even hailstones (vs. 11) – and they were successful (vs. 12)! It was a special day with a specific mission. Joshua and the Israelites seized the day. - This day was a unique day.
Joshua 10:14 says, “There never before or since has been a day like it.” This is the incredible story of the sun standing still and God giving Joshua a whole extra day to vanquish the enemy. Joshua prayed in vs. 12-13, “’O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.’ So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar.” Then it says, “The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.” God granted them extra time to accomplish the mission. What a unique, one-of-a-kind day! - This day was a gift.
Look at the rest of vs. 14 and vs. 15: “There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a man. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.” God answered Joshua’s prayer. He blessed Joshua and His people. He intervened in Joshua’s moment of need. God made a way and gave them the gift of a full day – a day within a day. However you look at it, this day was a gift that God blessed them with.
I think one of the keys to conquering opportunity is to look, every day, for opportunities to live for God and to bless others. Look at these three affirmations:
- Every day is special.
Each day presents us with a special opportunity to make a difference and accomplish all that God wants to accomplish in and through us. Let’s especially look for ways to bless the most important people around us and to fulfill the most important tasks God has for us. - Every day is unique.
There will never be another today, so we need to make today matter! These 24 hours are an exhaustible resource that we will never see again. There has never been a day like today nor will there ever be a day like today. It is a unique day of opportunity to bless our families, to live for God and to contribute to those around us. - Every day is a gift.
Each 24 hour cycle is a day we have not been promised. Each day is a gift we need to cherish. We can make more money, but we can never make more time. Time is a gift. Each day is a gift. Each 24 hour cycle is a blessing. We need to treat it as such.
Let’s all pray, “God, may I make today matter. May I seize opportunities to be a blessing for You and live my life to bless others.” Amen.