WAKE UP: Today Is a Gift

Each day God gives us is a gift.

Not random.

Not ordinary.

Not guaranteed.

A gift, hand-selected by the Creator of the universe and entrusted to you.

So, the question becomes:

“What am I doing with the gift my Father placed in my hands today?”

Every morning, before anything else happens-before the rush, the noise, the distractions, we already have a reason to be thankful.

We can thank Him for breath in our lungs.

For another sunrise.

For another chance to walk out our God-given purpose on this earth.

But here’s the deeper question:

“We woke up this morning… but are we truly awake?”

It’s one thing to open our eyes.

It’s another thing entirely to live alert, intentional, responsive to God, and spiritually awake to what He’s doing right now.

When someone gives you a gift, especially someone you love, you show them you’re thankful.

You take care of it.

You treat it with honor.

So how are we showing God that we are thankful for today?

How are we taking care of this day He entrusted to us?

How are we stewarding the time, the assignments, the opportunities, the moments that will never come again?

“Teach us to number our days…” — Psalm 90:12

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

This isn’t about counting down our life or living in fear.

It’s about awareness.

It’s a prayer that sounds like:

“Lord, help me realize I don’t have unlimited days. Help me feel the weight and the value of the time You’ve given me.”

Because when we understand we only get so many days on this earth, everything changes.

Each day becomes precious.

It matters what we do with today.

It matters how we love, how we serve, how we show up, and how we respond to God’s voice.

Numbering our days doesn’t shrink our lives; it expands our purpose.

It wakes us up to the truth that today is too valuable to waste.

I’m tired of wake-up calls
The truth is… I’m tired of spiritual wake-up calls.

When Charlie Kirk passed away, people called it a wake-up call for Christians. And yes - it definitely was. But the truth is, this keeps happening.

A wake-up call comes, we respond, we become spiritually alert… and then over time, we drift back into spiritual drowsiness.

Then the next wake-up call comes.

At some point, the question hit me:

“How many wake-up calls do we need before we finally stay awake?”

I don’t want to live spiritually groggy, drifting in and out of alertness until pain yanks me awake again.

I don’t want God to have to keep shaking me awake every time something tragic happens.

I don’t want my passion, my urgency, or my obedience to depend on crisis.

“We are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober.”  — (1 Thessalonians 5:5-6).

I don’t want wake-up calls anymore.

I want to remain awake. I want to live awake.

Awake to God’s presence.

Awake to His assignment.

Awake to the value of today.

Awake to eternity.

Jesus tells a story in Matthew 25:1–13 that captures this perfectly.

Ten bridesmaids waited for the Bridegroom.

All ten had lamps.

All ten fell asleep.

But only five were prepared: truly awake in the way that mattered.

They had oil in their lamps: proof they were prepared.

For us, oil looks like a responsive heart. It means we don’t drift through life on autopilot, but we stay ready for His voice, dressed for service, lamps burning, and spirits awake to whatever God has for us today.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning.” — Luke 12:25

The other five weren’t evil or rebellious.

They were simply unprepared. They assumed they had more time.

They believed they could get ready later.

And because they waited, they missed the moment.

They missed the Bridegroom.

This parable isn’t meant to terrify us; it’s meant to wake us up lovingly, but urgently.

Jesus isn’t saying, “Panic.”

He’s saying, “Be ready. Stay awake. Live prepared.”

Not someday. Today.

Wake up. Stay awake. Steward today.

This moment in history, this year, this season, this day: is your anointed time to be on the earth.

God didn’t accidentally place you here.

You were entrusted with this day.

You were entrusted with this generation.

Every day is a gift.

Every day is a calling.

Every day holds eternal impact.

And at the end of our lives, the only thing we will take with us… is souls.

Heaven is our home, but getting to heaven is not the only goal.

We have Kingdom work to do here…now…today.

Use this day for the advancement of His kingdom.

Today is a gift.

Today is your assignment.

Today matters for eternity.

So wake up, daughter of God.

Stay awake.

Stay alert.

Stay thankful.

God is calling you now. So go.