Daily Devotional for Sunday November 2, 2003

Do something nice for yourself today

( 1 John 4:16 )

Do something nice for yourself today. While the Christian life is a life of "surrender," surrendering our lives to Jesus, surrendering our lives to serve others, there are times that we simply need to do something nice for ourselves! Today is Sunday. The weekend for most people is a time off from our normal day to day responsibilities and work obligations. I want to encourage you to DO SOMETHING NICE FOR YOURSELF TODAY!!!!!

I remember last October, my wife and I were able to spend the weekend in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. We had a chance to spend some time with my two brothers and their families and visit other family members. I had a special treat on Saturday to be on the sidelines for the Ohio State/Penn State football game. Sports has always been a big part of my life, and over my years in the ministry a great release from the day to day challenges.

While I enjoy all sports, my passion is Ohio State football. Having gone to OSU in the mid 70's, I spent many great afternoons of my life in Ohio Stadium. Because of my workload here at Liveprayer, it has been several years since I had been back to the old "horseshoe." It was a wonderful afternoon as the Buckeyes won a close game that was part of their magical, undefeated, National Championship season.

By the way, I will tell you a secret. The greatest goal in my life is to one day hear God say to me, "well done thou good and faithful servant." That will confirm that my life was pleasing to God. But second, one that I need to accomplish before I die is to dot the "I" in Script Ohio! Only a true Buckeye will understand that. :)

The point that I want to make today is that in this life, which is short enough, we must take certain opportunities from time to time to simply do something nice for ourselves. For some it may be going out to a nice dinner. For others, it may be buying that item that you have wanted for so long. For others, it may be getting away for a few days to some place that you wanted to go. WHAT you do is not as important as DOING IT! Take time today to either do, or plan to do in the near future, something that YOU want to do.

Our lives are often defined by our sacrifices. We GIVE our lives to the Lord when we are saved. We commit our lives to our spouse and family. We surrender our lives DAILY for God to use. However, there is NOTHING WRONG from time to time to simply doing something nice for yourself!!!! I want to encourage you today, make the time to do something NICE FOR YOU!!!!

I love you and care about you so much. God has given us this life, a life of abundance. In the course of serving Him, sacrificing ourselves to live for the Lord each day, we MUST take opportunities from time to time to simply do something nice for ourselves. God will guide you. Don't feel guilty. It is part of the abundance that HE promised as we enjoy the things that we do during our life. Life is very serious. It is shorter than we want to acknowledge. That is all the more reason why we must enjoy the opportunities that we get from time to time to do those things that please us.

Know that I will be praying for you today. As much as I encourage you each day to follow the Word of God, to obey God, I am today imploring you to take some time this weekend, and do something that YOU LIKE TO DO!!! Life is short, and there is NOTHING WRONG with taking some time every now and then and do something nice for yourself!!!!

In His love and service, Your friend and brother in Christ, Bill Keller