John Michalak - 365 Devotions to Embrace What Matters Most

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365 Devotions to Embrace What Matters Most

Copyright 2015 by Zondervan

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Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530

ePub Edition June 2015: ISBN 978-0-310-35318-8

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Cover design: Kathy Mitchell

Interior design: Lori Lynch

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Contents

T ime can get away from us.

Sure, time can seem to muddle on foreverwhen we feel like a workday will never end or were watching the clock in school, thinking the bell will never ring. But the older we get, the more we realize that minutes have become hours, days have become months, and years have become decades. Suddenly half of our lives has passed, and we wonder where the time went and, more important, how we actually spent that time.

Did we step out the door to see the world and discover its wonders? Or did we waste our time moving from one favorite television show to the next? Did we find out what we were called to do and push forward through obstacles such as tight finances, lack of education, or the desire to further refine our characters? Or did we allow fear or laziness to win the day, and spend our lives settling for jobs that left us less than inspired? Did we embrace the richness of close relationships and family? Or did we go from one superficial encounter to the next, running away when life got too messy? Tick... tick... tick.

If youre reading this, the clock hasnt stopped for you! As long as youre breathing in and breathing out, you still have time to make the rest of your life matter. And although the clock hasnt stopped, I would like you to stop. For a few moments each day, spend a little time meditating on the things that matter:

who you are, why youre here, and what you should do about it.

how you see the world.

how to free yourself from the rat race.

the importance of your relationships.

whats wrong and how to make it right.

how to become a better human being.

Think deeply about what really matters. Then take the necessary steps to begin embracing a life that matters.

S even billion people live on this planet. Billions more have lived before us. But there has never been anyone exactly like you. You have a personality, a set of gifts, talents, and weaknesses all your own. You have a body size and shape, freckles, wrinkles, a nose, and eyes that set you apart from anyone who has ever lived.

You have a story that is unlike any other story. Youve suffered; you have overcome. Youve succeeded and you have failed. Youve been hurt and you have hurt others. You are the hero of your story and sometimes the villain. No one has lived the life youve lived.

You are loved. You, personally. You, with all your habits and addictions, with all your judgments of others and of yourself. You. You are loved deeply and without reservation.

If you had never lived, the world would be the worse for it. You matter.

I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness. Jeremiah 31:3

W hats your name? Though you cant answer me, itd be wonderful to know. Specifically, your first nameyour personal name.

Not your nickname. Nicknames, even if they describe something positive (and they rarely do), most often reveal only one part of us. They limit who we are to others and to ourselves.

Last names? At best, they describe only who our parents are, which could be good or bad. But they can also limit us in discovering our personal identities.

A first name is personal though. It is individual. It represents you.

Who you are matters, because how you identify yourself essentially determines the life you will live. It is the foundation for how you think, what you do, how you see the world, what kind of work you might pursue, or the kind of person you might marry.

So what is your name? Itd be wonderful to know.

They were going to name him after his father Zechariah, but his mother spoke up and said, No! He is to be called John.

Luke 1:5960

D id you know that you are always changing?

Your bodys molecules constantly renew themselves. The rate of change is much higher the younger you are and slows down as you grow older, but your body is always working on becoming something entirely different than it was before.

That adds a new layer to your identity. Not just to who you are, but to who you are becoming.

You are a character in a story that is still being written. Many people look at their lives and assume that who they were or who they are is all they will ever be. But the ultimate purpose of living is renewal. It is to gain more life.

Who you are becoming matters because youre meant for more.

Whats your name again? And what do you think your new name might be? Itd be wonderful to know.

Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas (which, when translated, is Peter). John 1:42

M ost people forget their dreams.

Even the dreams you have just before wakingyou might have a grasp of the details as you move from slumber to reality, but as you become more aware of the real world, the dream fades into the shadows of your subconscious.

Children are better than adults at playing with their dreams. What do you want to be when you grow up? A pirate! A rich tycoon! An astronaut! But then we grow up and stop pretending. We dont imagine or dream about what we could be.

We think that to make it in this world, we have to wake up and smell the coffee. And yes, by settling for the status quo, well make it from day to day. But will we truly live?

Close your eyes. Imagine the peace of slumber, letting go of the need to settle for whats expected.

Can you remember your dreams? They matter.