God Wants You To Do This Every Single Day

TODAY'S TEACHING

For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us].
 —Ephesians 2:10

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When I first started walking closely with the Lord, I thought I needed a dramatic confirmation for almost everything. Every decision felt like it needed a flashing sign from heaven. If I sensed God nudging me to encourage someone, give something away, or help a person in need, I'd hesitate and think, What if that's just me?

I remember one moment so clearly.

There was a man who had fallen on hard times, and for weeks I couldn't shake the thought that I should give him twenty dollars. Today that doesn't sound like much, but back then twenty dollars stretched a long way. I kept arguing with myself until one afternoon I finally asked, "Lord... is this really You?"

The answer surprised me.

Deep in my heart I sensed Him say, "Yes. But even if it wasn't Me, I wouldn't be upset because you blessed somebody."

I've never forgotten those words.

They changed the way I looked at goodness. I realized God isn't trying to stop us from being generous. He's producing generosity inside us. Galatians 5:22-23 tells us that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Goodness isn't something we manufacture by trying harder. It's evidence that God's precious Holy Spirit is living and working within us.

A woman once shared something with me after church that has stayed in my mind. She was standing in line at a grocery store when she noticed the elderly man in front of her quietly removing items from his cart because he didn't have enough money. Nobody else seemed to notice. She paid the difference without saying much, smiled, and walked away before he could even thank her. She told me later, "I almost talked myself out of it because I wasn't sure if God was leading me or if I was just feeling emotional.

Maybe.

Or maybe that's exactly how the Holy Spirit often works.

Sometimes we expect His promptings to feel like thunder when, in reality, it's more like a gentle pull in our spirit that won't leave us alone. A thought keeps returning. A person's face comes to mind over and over. We feel compelled to send a text, make a phone call, pray for someone, or meet a need that wasn't even on our radar five minutes earlier.

Sometimes, we tend to overcomplicate what God is doing.

Genesis 12:2 records God's promise to Abraham: "And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee... and thou shalt be a blessing." Notice the pattern. God blesses His people so they can become a blessing. His goodness isn't meant to stop with us. It's meant to flow through us into someone else's life.

I've noticed something over the years. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more aware I become of other people's needs. That's never happened because I sat down and made a list of good deeds. It happens because God's heart has a way of rubbing off on us. Spend enough time with someone and you begin to care about what they care about.

The Lord cares deeply about people.

There are opportunities all around us if we'll simply pay attention. Someone needs encouragement after receiving disappointing news. Someone else is carrying groceries while trying to hold a toddler's hand. A single mother could use an extra meal this week. An elderly neighbour might just need somebody to listen for ten minutes without looking at a phone every thirty seconds.

These moments rarely arrive with a trumpet blast.

Most of them look ordinary.

1 John 4:12 says, "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us." Every act of genuine love points back to the God who first loved us. Sometimes the greatest sermon we'll ever preach is a quiet act of kindness that no one applauds except Heaven.

Here's something I've learned... we don't have to spend our lives asking, "What's the minimum God expects from me?" That's such a small way to live. Instead, we can wake up each morning and ask, "Lord, who can I encourage today? Who can I help? Show me where You're already working so I can join You."

That's a much better question.

As Christians, we're not simply waiting for opportunities to do something meaningful someday. We already carry the Holy Spirit within us today. That means every conversation, every interruption, every ordinary Thursday has the potential to become holy ground if we're willing to let God's goodness flow through us.

So don't ignore those quiet nudges. Don't dismiss that name that keeps coming to mind or that gentle desire to bless someone. Those moments may be far more significant than they first appear. As you walk closely with Jesus, you'll discover that one of the greatest joys of the Christian life isn't just receiving God's blessings... it's becoming one.

If this resonates with you, here's a short prayer you can say today:

"Dear God, thank You for never calling me just to receive but also to give. Open my eyes today because I know I can become so focused on my own schedule that I miss the people You've placed right in front of me. Fill my heart with Your kindness, Your compassion, and Your courage so I don't keep talking myself out of simple acts of obedience. Help me leave someone better than I found them today, even if it's only through a smile, an encouraging word, or a quiet act of love done for Your glory. Amen."

God bless you! 

Your brother in Christ,

Daniel
Daily Effective Prayer

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