如何与神一同度过每一天How to Spend Each Day with God

How to Spend Each Day with
God

Richard Baxter

A holy life is inclined to be made easier, when we
know the usual sequence and method of our duties — with everything falling
into its proper place. Therefore, I shall give some brief directions for
spending each day in a holy manner.

Sleep

Measure the time of your sleep appropriately so that you do not waste
your precious morning hours sluggishly in your bed. Let the time of your
sleep be matched to your health and labor, and not to slothful pleasure.

First Thoughts

Let God have your first awaking thoughts; lift up your hearts to Him
reverently and thankfully for the rest enjoyed the night before, and cast
yourself upon Him for the day which follows.

Familiarize yourself so consistently to this that your
conscience may check you when common thoughts shall first intrude. Think of
the mercy of a night's rest and of how many that have spent that night in
Hell; how many in prison; how many in cold, hard lodgings; how many
suffering from agonizing pains and sickness, weary of their beds and of
their lives.

Think of how many souls were that night called from their
bodies terrifyingly to appear before God and think how quickly days and
nights are rolling on! How speedily your last night and day will come!
Observe that which is lacking in the preparedness of your soul for such a
time and seek it without delay.

Prayer

Let prayer by yourself alone (or with your partner) take place before
the collective prayer of the family. If possible let it be first, before any
work of the day.

Family Worship

Let family worship be performed consistently and at a time when it is
most likely for the family to be free of interruptions.

Ultimate Purpose

Remember your ultimate purpose, and when you set yourself to your day's
work or approach any activity in the world, let HOLINESS TO THE LORD
be written upon your hearts in all that you do. Do no activity which you
cannot entitle God to, and truly say that he set you about it — and do
nothing in the world for any other ultimate purpose than to please, glorify
and enjoy Him. "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." 1 Corinthians
10:31.

Diligence in Your Calling

Follow the tasks of your calling carefully and diligently.
Thus:

(a) You will show that you are not sluggish and servants
to your flesh (as those that cannot deny it ease), and you will further the
putting to death of all the fleshly lusts and desires that are fed by ease
and idleness.

(b) You will keep out idle thoughts from your mind, that
swarm in the minds of idle persons.

(c) You will not lose precious time, something
that idle persons are daily guilty of.

(d) You will be in a way of obedience to God when the
slothful are in constant sins of omission.

(e) You may have more time to spend in holy duties if you
follow your occupation diligently. Idle people have no time for praying and
reading, because they lose time by loitering at their work.

(f) You may expect God's blessing and comfortable
provision for both yourself and your families.

(g) It may also encourage the health of your body which
will increase its competence for the service of your soul.

Temptations and Things That Corrupt

Be thoroughly acquainted with your besetting temptations and the things
that may corrupt you — and watch against them all day long. You should watch
especially the most dangerous of the things that corrupt, and those
temptations that either your company or business will unavoidably lay before
you.

Watch against the master sins of . . .

unbelief,

hypocrisy,

selfishness,

pride,

flesh-pleasing and

the excessive love of earthly things.

Take care against being drawn into earthly-mindedness and
excessive cares, or covetous designs for rising in the world, under the
pretense of diligence in your calling.

If you are to trade or deal with others, be vigilant
against selfishness and all that smacks of injustice or uncharitableness. In
all your interactions with others, watch against the temptation of empty and
idle talking. Watch also against those persons who would tempt you to anger.
Maintain that modesty and cleanness of speech that the laws of purity
require.

If you converse with flatterers — be on your guard
against swelling pride.

If you converse with those that despise and injure you —
strengthen yourself against impatient, revengeful pride.

At first these things will be very difficult, while sin
has any strength in you, but once you have grasped a continual awareness of
the poisonous danger of any one of these sins, your heart will readily and
easily avoid them.

Meditation

When alone in your occupations, improve the time in practical and
beneficial meditations. Meditate upon . . .

the infinite goodness and perfections of God;

Christ and redemption;

Heaven and how unworthy you are of going there;

and how you deserve eternal misery in Hell.

The Only Motive

Whatever you are doing, in company or alone, do it all to the glory of
God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Otherwise, it is unacceptable to God.

Redeeming The Time

Place a high value upon your time, be more careful of not losing
it than you would of losing your money. Do not let . . .

worthless recreations,

worldly entertainment,

idle talk,

unprofitable company,

or sleep —

rob you of your precious time.

Be more careful to escape that person, action or course
of life which would rob you of your time — than you would be to
escape thieves and robbers.

Make sure that you are not merely never idle, but rather
that you are using your time in the most profitable way that you can, and do
not prefer a less profitable way before one of greater profit.

Eating and Drinking

Eat and drink with moderation and thankfulness for health, not for
unprofitable pleasure. Never please your appetite in food or drink, when it
is prone to be detrimental to your health.

Remember the sin of Sodom: "Look, this was the
iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of
food and abundance of idleness" Ezekiel 16:49.

The Apostle Paul wept when he mentioned those "whose end
is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame
— who set their minds on earthly things, being enemies to the cross of
Christ" Philippians 3:18-19. O then do not live according to the flesh, lest
you die! (Romans 8:13).

Prevailing Sins

If any temptation prevails against you, and you fall into any sins in
addition to habitual failures, immediately lament it and confess it to God;
repent quickly whatever the cost. It will certainly cost you more if you
continue in sin and remain unrepentant.

Do not make light of your habitual failures, but confess
them and daily strive against them, taking care not to aggravate them by
unrepentance and contempt.

Relationships

Remember every day, the special duties of various relationships: whether
as husbands, wives, children, masters, servants, pastors, people,
magistrates, subjects.

Remember every relationship has its special duty and its
advantage for the doing of some good. God requires your faithfulness in this
matter, as well as in any other duty.

Closing the Day

Before returning to sleep, it is wise and necessary to review the
actions and mercies of the day past, so that you may be thankful for
all the special mercies, and humbled for all your sins.

This is necessary in order that you might renew your
repentance as well as your resolve for obedience, and in order that you may
examine yourself to see whether your soul grew better or worse, whether sin
goes down and grace goes up, and whether you are better prepared for
suffering, death and eternity.

May these directions be engraved upon your mind and be
made the daily practice of your life.

If sincerely adhered to, these will be conducive to the
holiness, fruitfulness and quietness of your life, and
bring you to a comfortable and peaceful death.