Have a good day!
How many times have I heard this in my life? I’d wager millions. But what does it really mean? I think too many people – myself included – have used this phrase as a Goodbye. It’s not that I don’t want someone to have a good day, it’s just what you say.
But, just before hanging up after one of our phone conversations, my mom said the following…
“Have a good, joyful, happy, productive day…”
At first, I was so hung up on the seemingly large amount of words that just came out of her mouth, that I just sat there trying to process what she had said. It had sounded to me like she had strung together a super long sentence, and I was speechless for a moment. (Hard to believe, I know…)
Once I regained my ability to talk, we said our goodbyes, but my mind was replaying that sentence again. So, this time, I wrote it down.
“Have a good, joyful, happy, productive day…”
As it turns out, there are only seven words in that sentence. Not really a lot. But I think what really got me was the charge to make my day these things.
Good ~ Joyful ~ Happy ~ Productive
So, I thought about what each means and how I can do my best to choose and incorporate them into my day. Because, when I really think about it, why wouldn’t I if I can?
Today I’m focusing on Good.
What is Good, anyway?
According to Google, good has many definitions. Listed above are what people typically associate with something that is “good.” It’s either something most people want (or lacking what you don’t want), or something that is deemed morally right (like good vs. evil). Either way to me, it’s a judgment call.
Not only that, but there seems to be a sliding scale when it comes to determining what is considered good or bad. And, it’s frequently subjective. The worst thing about that is who ends up being the judge – the world. Because of this, the lines keep getting fuzzier and fuzzier and are moved so many times that it gets hard to see on what side things might fall. Just like a child will keep pushing the limits to see how far he can go until he wears down his parents, so does the world. It happens ever so slowly that it is hardly perceptible as it is happening. Then one day you look up and notice you’re miles away from where you started.
So, I went to another source – the one that is constant – my Bible.
What does the Bible say about it?
I have a couple of Bibles, but the one I use most often and have found the most helpful is my Life Application Bible. (You can check out the NIV version here…) It has a lot of explanations and more information about each verse. It also has a dictionary and concordance (similar to an index) so I can look up verses on various subjects. I have found it super helpful.
So, when I looked in the back of my Bible, verses mentioning good were broken up into three sections
- Good, Goodness
- Good News
- Good Will
One of the verses that stood out to me was listed as, what is a “good” person? So, of course, I turned there right away…
There lived in the land of Uz a man named Job – a good man who feared God and stayed away from evil. Job 1:1 (LAB)
From what I have learned about Job, I knew he was what God considered good. So, at first glance, those two characteristics seemed like they were easy enough, and I was probably already doing them…
Fear God.
Stay away from evil.
Part 1: Fearing God is respecting, worshiping, and obeying Him.
Well, maybe that’s a bit convicting… I do try, but I know I fail a lot. (Check out my Sliminess of Sin post…)
Part 2: Staying away from evil seemed a much easier task, until I read the Life Application portion of my bible.
[JOB] STAYED AWAY FROM EVIL. HE DID NOT ALLOW SIN TO CREEP INTO HIS LIFE OR TEMPTATION TO OVERCOME HIM.
Well, then. Maybe not quite as easy as I thought. Sin is super slimy and creepy and can easily work its way into my life if I’m not careful.
In order to help me remember, once again Paul comes to mind in his letter to the Philippians.
Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Philippians 4:8 (LAB)
To me, this is all about paying attention to what I’m focusing on. It’s about what is appropriate, nice, uncorrupted, guiltless, and morally right. Whether it be referring to what I am reading, or listening to, or watching on TV, I need to make sure that I am making conscious decisions about what is going into my head. As Brad has always said, you are always learning something, it’s just a matter of what it is…
What also struck me about Paul’s message was that it was about thoughts.
Sometimes it’s hard for me to remember that God knows all of me. He doesn’t just watch me from afar and notice when I go to church, or when I don’t. When I choose to help someone, or when I turn the other way. When I say kind words aloud, or when I mumble things under my breath.
He knows my heart, my head, my soul. He knows every thought I’ve ever had.
Because of that, Jesus’ words in Matthew are even more convicting.
But I warn you – unless your goodness is greater than that of the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders, you can’t get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all! Matthew 5:20
In this verse, Jesus is teaching about the law and how the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders were outwardly obeying the laws, but their hearts and thoughts remained unchanged. I could definitely see how easily that can be done – I did it for years.
In the past, I attended church and just went through the motions – because that’s what I was supposed to do. By just watching me, it seemed as though I was a model Christian. But, I certainly wasn’t paying attention to or thinking about the right things. My level of goodness was way down the ladder.
So, although God knows everything that has EVER crossed my mind, I am so grateful to be learning all of the things I am now! I now know better what I should be focusing on and doing. Don’t get me wrong – I realize I have a lot still to learn, but everyone has to start somewhere.
I challenge you to pick one verse from this post and study it out. Read through it and think about what it means to you. Often times I have read the same verse at various times in my life, and God tries to tell me something different almost every time. I encourage you to let Him in. Let Him change your heart and your attitude.
So, what is a Good Day?
To me, it starts with getting in His Word and having a conversation with Him. Then, doing everything I can throughout the day to bring Him glory and honor. I will do as Paul instructed the Philippians and think about all I can to be glad about and praise God for it all.
Then, instead of just telling someone to, “Have a good day,” I may just ask God to bless them using the words he gave to Moses for Aaron and his sons.
The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
Numbers 6:24-26
I know it’s more than those seven words that my mom said to me, but it is such a comforting passage. And, it reminds me of Sleep Sound in Jesus – one of my favorite CD’s from when the kids were babies. (Check it out here…)
Your thoughts?
What do you think? Have you ever studied out good in the bible? I know there are a lot more verses, and so many other applications and ways to have a good day. I would love to hear your thoughts. How do you have a good day? Can’t wait to hear from all of you!
