Seize the Day

Proverbs 12:24 ESV
“The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”

A diligent person has self-control. He or she rules the circumstances instead of allowing the circumstances to rule him or her. In fact, diligence carries the idea of being hardworking, conscientious, committed, driven. While slothfulness implicates being inactive, idle, having no drive, unresponsive, uncaring.

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9:27 that he disciplines himself; “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.”

Diligence in this usage is seeing opportunities and capitalizing on them. Working toward a goal, seeing the big picture and making a plan. He or she is a visionary, imaginative, inspired even when things do not look good, they can imagine what things could be like. So, “the hand of the diligent will rule, or will be in firm control of the matter.”

How do we find the drive when things look bleak? Get around positive, uplifting people. People that can speak life into you, people that you know will be praying for you. Let go of the past, let go of the person or persons that pulled you down, the one that said mean or hurtful things to you or the person that did not value you like God does.

Leave the past in the past. Nothing can change the past but your story is not finished yet, see what God can do in and through you. Begin to see yourself like God sees you. Strong, confident, fully able to achieve new heights, someone that has the glory inside of them and can do all that God has for you.

Prayer:
Father, this morning, crush every doubt, confusion, worry, fear, anxiety in those who are reading this devotion. Give them confidence, hope, new vitality, strength. Give them courage to change their circumstances if they are in a bad place. If they are diligent, given them more power, more of Your strength to run and not get weary, to walk and not faint. Help them to seize this day. In Your name Most High God, Amen!