Think Ahead: 7 Decisions You Can Make Today for the God-Honoring Life You Want TomorrowSample

I Will Be Faithful

If you could choose a one-word goal to describe your life, what would it be? Let’s say this word would represent your character and summarize what you stood for and achieved.

I did a little informal survey, and three of the most common responses were:

• Successful
• Influential
• Happy

No surprises there. I get that.

Those are good choices, but I believe there’s a much better one. A word that should be at the front of our minds and top of our hearts. A word that should motivate us each day and inspire us to live for what lasts.

Why am I so convinced this is the best word?

Because when we get to heaven, if we’ve lived a life that pleases Him, God will say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant” (see Matthew 25:21).

If, in the end, that’s what God will be looking for and commending, let’s think ahead to that all-important moment and pre-decide, right now: I will be faithful.

How to Be Faithful

Because of our desire to be faithful, we pre-decide that every interaction is an opportunity to add value. It’s what Jesus did and what we’re called to do.

What if every time you walk into a room, your intention is to improve the climate? What if every time you interact with a person, your purpose is to be a blessing?

Jesus viewed every opportunity as a way to encourage, to meet a need, to share God’s grace.

With God’s help, you can be faithful to Him by viewing every interaction with others as an opportunity to love and add value. Think about it:

• God put you in the place you live so you can love your neighbors for Him.
• God gave you the job you have so you can be a blessing to your coworkers, clients, and customers.
• God can use you on social media to “do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people” (Philippians 2:14-15 NLT).
• God gave you friends who need hope.
• God will show you a single parent who needs help.
• God will put someone in your path today who needs healing.

You can love them. You can add value. If you do that, you will be faithful.

And you have no idea how God can use your faithfulness in other people’s lives.