Every Ordinary Day In Jesus’ Name

LIVING IN JESUS’ NAME

Every Ordinary Day In Jesus’ Name

The Apostle Paul believed the place to grow close to God is precisely in our DAILY lives.

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

“I am with you always...” Matthew 28:20

The heart of spiritual life is to do EVERYTHING with Jesus, in his name – the way he would do it in our place, knowing he is actually present.

What living in Jesus’ Name might look like in your life:

waking up              eating breakfast   driving                    working 

watching TV           worrying                                doing ordinary household tasks

shopping                doing everyday relationships

One Day At A Time                               We can only live in Jesus’ Name ONE day at a time.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthew 6:34

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24

If I am going to learn to spend an ordinary day with Jesus, it will have to be THIS day.

It doesn’t mean doing new things.

It means doing things you’re ALREADY doing, but in new ways – in Jesus’ Name.

Challenges to Doing Life in Jesus’ Name

What daily activity(ies) is(are) hardest for you to do in Jesus’ Name, and why?

 Beginning the Day with Jesus

According to the Old Testament, the day begins EVENING.

“There was evening, and there was morning – the first day.” Genesis 1:5

“Thinking about night as the beginning of the day reminds us that everything doesn’t depend on us.  We go to sleep, but God is working all through the night.  So we don’t have to be anxious or rushed.  When we wake up, we simply join him in his work.”

- Eugene H. Petershon

Sleep       Sleep is an act of WORSHIP.

“I lie down and sleep; I wake again because the Lord sustains me.” Psalm 3:5

Sleep is a GIFT from God.

“In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat – for he grants sleep to those he loves.” Psalm 127:2

Get enough sleep.     FATIGUE is one of the greatest barriers to prayer and spiritual growth. (If Satan cannot make you sin, he will make you Busy)

Resolve conflicts before going to bed.

“It is a decisive rule of every Christian fellowship that every dissension (disagreement/ conflict) that the day has brought must be healed in the evening.  It is perilous (dangerous/ unsafe/ risky) for the Christian to lie down to sleep with an unreconciled heart.”  Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”

Ephesians 4:26-27

Invite Jesus to be with you when you wake.

Pray a simple prayer: “God when I wake up, I want my first thoughts to be about you.”

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day.” Lamentations 3:23, NLT

Waking Up            Renew your FAITH to Jesus.

Speak to Jesus about any anxieties or concerns you feel.

“For Christians, the beginning of the day should not be burdened and haunted by the various kinds of concerns that they face during the day.  The Lord stands above the new day, for God has made it. All restlessness, all impurity, all worry and anxiety flee before him.  Therefore, in the early morning hours of the day, may our many thoughts and our many idle words be silent and may the first word and the first thought belong to the one to whom our whole life belongs.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (You must unload your burdens before him)                        

Acknowledge your DEPENDENCY on Jesus.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

Learning to Find God in Each Moment of the Day  (Chorandeo – an audience of One)

We need to develop the skill of identifying God’s presence in our lives.