It is quite common today to use the expression “Have a nice day!” when we take our leave of someone. It creates a very encouraging and positive effect. This expression has been around for quite some time now, but it never seems to get old or tiring. It simply means, “I hope you have a profitable day,” and I believe that most people sincerely mean this. It is not just a casual, trivial expression.
Upon rising each morning, I think most of us ladies have good intentions of having a profitable day. And we all know that putting God first in prayer can make a very big difference in our success. However, on some days, no matter how hard we try, things can happen to blur our focus and can knock us off track. In these cases, it may take more prayer for self-control than would normally be the case.
Being a morning person, I also enjoy studying God’s word at that time—when my mind is fresher and more alert. If I am rushed for time—perhaps due to an appointment I have to keep—one of my favorite go-to scriptures is Psalm 15. This psalm has only five verses, but it is chock-full of righteous requirements. In verse one, it asks the question, “Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill?” Then in verse two, it begins to answer: “He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks the truth in his heart.” Then it goes on to list other qualities of righteousness, ending with the very encouraging words of the last sentence of verse five: “He who does these things shall never be moved.” Also, its companion scripture is Psalm 24:3–5, “Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.”
These scriptures help me to remember to walk in a right path and to keep my day profitable.
One thing—some may find—that can mar a day is lingering, doubtful thoughts that keep hanging on. For example, career choices. Most young ladies I have come to know over the years desire to meet the “man of their dreams” and live happily ever after. Believe me, a lot of thought and planning goes into this, but preparation is sometimes lacking. So, with these thoughts in mind, let us return to the original reason Eve was created. In Genesis 2:18 we read, “And the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.’” Eve was created to be a helpmate for Adam, filling a wifely role as homemaker—which was mentioned several times by Mr. Rod McNair in the Tomorrow’s World Special Report, “The Future of the Family.”
This type of marriage relationship has been maligned and disparaged in modern times due to certain aspects of modern thinking. However, to manage a home as a wife and mother can be very rewarding, fulfilling and even empowering, if done properly with love and kindness in a godly manner. Blessings abound to those who embrace this way of giving of the self to others.
The young ladies can succeed in their desires, which I mentioned before, if they are prepared. Some have told me that they were pleasantly surprised to discover talents and skills they did not even know they possessed, until after obtaining a home and family of their own—which can bring about many profitable days.
I knew a couple, years ago, who both had corporate jobs. They were very supportive of God’s Work. They also had a grown daughter who lived at home. While I was visiting them for dinner one evening, the husband mentioned that his wife had no interest at all in homemaking. This was surprising, since the home looked so well kept. The husband then explained that he had reluctantly assumed the homemaking role since his wife had no interest—none, zilch, nada. Her interest was in her corporate job, and she would not even give homemaking a chance to prove itself a profitable endeavor.
In order to have a profitable day on a regular basis, one must opt to start out with a positive attitude. “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). Also, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8). And as we think on these things, let us not forget to maintain the important things that we have already achieved—as the Apostle Paul exhorted the Philippians. “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind” (Philippians 3:13–16).
And of course, while we are meditating, let us not forget God’s promises and how they apply to us as women of faith.
In our quest to have a profitable day, all too often we may find ourselves fretting over small things, most of which, if analyzed properly, “don’t amount to a hill of beans” as the saying goes. This type of thinking and fretting can become habitual and worrisome to others. And it may take maximum effort on one’s part (with God’s help) in order to eradicate it, while realizing that it’s a worthless endeavor—useless and unprofitable.
In times past, my husband was very helpful to me in this area. He would just simply say, “Get your mind off of that.” I would, because he was actually doing us both a favor, and to this day I still lean to that wise understanding. So, as we can see from the things mentioned above, as long as we seek God’s Kingdom and His righteousness first, and do not allow ourselves to be sidetracked, we can look forward to many profitable days to come.