The Power of 1440: Making the Most of Every Minute in a DaySample

Today Is the Day

Mondays have, over the decades, developed a reputation for drudgery and misery. And the days immediately following don’t fare much better. It’s as if we’ve become conditioned to accept Monday through Thursday as days to endure and tolerate while we wait for Friday through Sunday to enjoy and celebrate.

What does a typical week look like for you? What characterizes each day? Here’s a rundown of some common perceptions:

Monday: Universally reviled and resisted, this much-maligned day is the bane of people throughout the land: employed and self-employed, interns and CEOs, students and teachers. It’s no wonder we frequently hear people talk about having the Monday blues or a case of the Mondays.

Tuesday: This day might be considered “Monday with a hangover.” Not quite as bad as Monday, but still a long way from the weekend.

Wednesday: Hump day! Normally a typical day, ho-hum and uneventful, the end of the day on Wednesday is a bright spot for many, meaning they’ve gotten past the week’s halfway point.

Thursday: Sometimes referred to as Friday Eve, Thursday is another grind-it- out day, but one that has inched closer to the weekend, offering hope to those ready for the workweek to end and playtime to begin.

Friday: TGIF! Even though it is technically a workday, this day is usually heralded as the start of the weekend.

Saturday: Sleep in, leisurely sip your coffee, make pancakes for the kids. It’s a day to slow your pace, catch up on chores, and spend the day in sweats. Whatever you choose, it’s usually a day of downtime and playtime.

Sunday: God designed one day of the week to be a sabbath, set aside for rest and worship. People of faith usually attend church services and participate with their faith community. This day, for many people, is also devoted to football, golf, and backyard barbecues.

We miss many opportunities to thrive, grow, and shine when we prioritize one day over another and categorize days as either good or bad. If you begin a day, any day, believing it’s going to be lousy, it likely will be! Your attitude will determine your productivity, performance, and peace of mind.

If we muddle through Monday, presuming it’s the worst day of the week, we won’t view it as a fresh start. If we trudge through Tuesday, already looking toward the weekend, our outlook and disposition will be compromised. If we whine about Wednesday, waiting to get over the hump, we will miss opportunities to bless others and be blessed ourselves. If we are tepid about Thursday, anticipating Friday as a fun day, we won’t be present and focused on today’s possibilities. 

To maximize each of our 1440 daily minutes, we need to view every day as an invitation to create, produce, and flourish. To make the most of each day, we should wake up in the morning and anticipate God’s leading to encourage and empower others. To seize the power of today, we ought to believe we will grow and develop on that day.

Every minute we have the opportunity, if we will see it and seize it, to step closer to our God-given potential and live out our faith with hearts full of enthusiasm. We are the ones who decide whether or not to live fully Monday through Sunday. Our attitude should be guided by a psalm: “This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (118:24 ESV).

Respond

Think of an example of a day you expected to be a certain way, and the reality fulfilled your expectations. Why is it important to view every day as an invitation to grow and flourish? 

What are some things that tend to distract you from making the most of each day? Ask God to help you seize the opportunities he gives you to live out your faith today. 

Read Psalm 118:24 ESV out loud. What can you do to “rejoice and be glad” today? Be specific.