By Charles Christmas

Someone quipped, “The difficult thing about life is that it is so ‘daily,’” but what about the other side of the coin?

A wonderful thing about life is that it is allotted to us in 24-hour segments. The sun comes up and the day begins; then the sun goes down, forecasting the end of the day. This never stops.

Your body, mind and emotions have a daily regulator. You must have food and water daily, and you must have sleep and rest daily in order for things to go as they should.

And so it is with our relationship with God: he has planned it to be a daily experience. The answers to these few simple questions will help us examine some things about God’s plan for our daily experience with him:

What may we expect from the Lord daily? He has promised his presence daily, saying, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” His love for us is daily: Nothing shall separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39). God’s faithfulness is unending: God’s faithfulness, love and compassion are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). He promises to provide the daily necessities of life. He taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” and if we seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all the necessities of life will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).

He is our daily burden bearer, who daily bears our burdens. Daily, he gives us courage as the God of all comfort and encouragement. He is our daily guide: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he shall direct your path (Proverbs 3:5-6).

What does the Lord require from us daily? Jesus said, “Whoever comes after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Yes, he invites us to a self-denying and sacrificial surrender on a daily basis. He says, “Present your body a living sacrifice which is our reasonable worship” in response to all he has done for us. This means to give him your mind, eyes, ears, tongue, hands, feet, abilities, possessions and potential for his control. Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength (Luke 10:27). His promise: He that loses his life for my sake shall find it (Matthew 10:39); otherwise, one’s life will be lost. The Apostle Paul summed it up in three words: “I die daily,” meaning dying to self in order that Jesus might fully live through him.

What can we experience daily? Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). We may be able to do very little to keep our bodies from aging, other than eat right, exercise and be mentally and socially active, but inwardly we can be renewed daily.

I believe in and practice seeking to keep my body as healthy as possible. I use Cornerstone Fitness Center three days each week; I’m in bed eight hours each night and eat five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. That may help a little, but I am far more committed to being renewed inwardly day by day. If something else must go, it will not be that first hour, early, early in the morning, spent in personal Bible meditation and prayer for my own inward renewal. God grant that I never let it slip.

What should others receive from us daily? They should receive encouragement. Encourage one another daily (Heb.3:13). Testing and temptations for the believer come from without and from within. Discouragement, lack of faith, wavering commitment, depression and severe trials abound in our brothers and sisters in the Lord. They need encouragement from you and me, and they need it today! Crises are about to explode today in persons we know. God help you and me to encourage someone, some couple or some family today.

What can the church be experiencing daily? The Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:47). And the churches grew in number daily (Acts 16:5). We have come to think of persons being added to the church on Sundays as the gospel is shared in church buildings, but the original and permanent plan of God is that the gospel, the word and the testimony be shared daily by leader and laity. God is calling us back and forward to his plan and his power.

—Charles Christmas is a religion columnist for The Clanton Advertiser. His column appears each Thursday.