Make Your Days Count

Thanks to Dave for the reference:

“Count your days and make your days count.”
- Andy Stanley

Karen Dub’s job is to train the best in the world to be even better. As a master trainer, she trains Olympic athletes to compete on the world’s greatest athletic stage. Her goal is to see top athletes maximize their gifts and opportunities so that they will experience the thrill of victory and not the agony of defeat. She wants every Olympic competitor to make his or her performance count.
 Have an unrelenting sense of urgency. One of the athletes she trained is a pent-athlete named Suzanne Stettinius who made Team USA for the 2012 Olympics. Within days of making the team, she was relocated to the Olympic Training Center (OTC) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. At the OTC, every aspect of the athlete’s life is mapped out. They control the food they eat, the sleep they get, the training they do and even the thoughts they think. As Suzanne first entered the world-class weight room, she saw a quote hanging above the door, “Enter these doors with an unrelenting sense of urgency.” The best athletes in the world seem to understand that the window for this opportunity is closing and everyone in the building is focused on helping the competitors maximize their gift.
 Count your days and make your days count. We are told in Psalm 90:12 to “number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Life is a vapor. Even though some days feel very long, almost like they will never end, the reality is that the years are short. Time does fly. We have long day but short years. Our window of opportunity to make a difference in this world for others is closing. So what will we do to make our days count?
 

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” – Ephesians 5:15

 Big opportunities require big responsibility. In Luke 12:48, we are reminded that from those who are given much, much is required. When we are blessed with a lot, we must be even more responsible with what we do with it. We are not blessed just for us, but for others. There are people that are counting on us. Will you see opportunities and seize the day?
 Maximize your gift, no matter what size of the gift. The idea of maximizing your gift is not jus for elite athletes; it’s for all of us. As a lacrosse coach for 13-year-old boys, this principle applies just as much! We are creating an environment and expectation that they have God-given potential to be maximized, both on and off the field. The size of the gift, potential or opportunity doesn’t matter. Often times, we make our days count the most by doing the little things behind the scenes. It’s in the small acts of kindness and words of encouragement. It’s in the everyday generosity when we give to those who have need.
 Make your days. Remember that life is short and approach each day and every opportunity with an unrelenting sense of urgency to make a difference. Whether you have a lot or a little, do a lot with it! Maximize your gift and make your days count!

Take Action:

1.     How are you living?  Are you living with a sense of urgency to make a difference or are you going through the motions?

2.     When have you felt like the days would never end, but the years were flying by?

3.     What are the most important gifts or opportunities you have been given? Are you maximizing them?

4.     What one thing will you do to make your day count?