From the moment that alarm clock goes off in the morning we should ask ourselves the question: "Do we get to or do we got to?" That very simple question and our simple answer determines how we perceive every facet and every relationship in our lives. Everything can truly come down to seeing things as obstacles or opportunities. When we got to, this is how life looks: the alarm clock goes off but we smack the snooze button a few times wanting more time in bed. We rush to get ready then are frustrated by the traffic on the road, or the rudeness of the other commuters, or the misbehavior in getting our children ready. We go on to the middle of the day: the workload is impossible and everyone along with yourself is complaining how they can't wait until they get to leave, or the kids are at school and the amount of things to do around the house is insurmountable and the freedom ends as soon as the kids come home from school. We then get to the end of the day: we complain about our nighttime commute, we just want a few minutes alone and the kids are demanding our last bit of energy, all we want to do is crawl back into bed. This is the picture of we "got to".

We follow the rules, often complaining the whole way, experiencing little to no joy in life. When we “get to” the whole world looks different. The alarm clock is simply an opportunity to see what God has planned for us. We get to start our morning with Him and in Him as we get our marching orders from the God that we love. Our morning difficulties are not seen that way. Traffic is seen as an opportunity to listen to more worship music, listen to another podcast, have one more encouraging conversation; if commuting it is an opportunity to show God's love to a world that is blind to him, to our children it is an opportunity to show love towards them. In the middle of the day, when the rest of the world complains about one more obstacle placed before them until they reach their finish line which is the end of the work day, we get to find one more opportunity to encourage or reach someone for the gospel. At the end of the day we get to spend our time with those we love most, treasuring those moments until our day ends and we close our eyes. We are in control of our attitude and how we view life. This is a day to day decision.

When we follow the law or any list of do's and do not's, life is one big frustration since we never accomplish what we plan on. We always fail, since in our flesh we will never be good enough. But in Christ we are freed. The Lord doesn't love us any more if we read more, pray more, etc. We do these things not to earn His favor, we do them because we actually get to do them. This verse changes our relationship with Him from one of religion or "got to", to one of relationship or "get to". Our status has changed once we accepted Jesus as our Lord and savior, but it is so easy to forget this, as we read in Galatians 4:6-7, "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ." Abba means "Father" but it more closely resembles "Daddy". We have this closeness with our Dad, but we also revere His awesomeness as our Father.

So, what does your day look like. No matter how difficult you want to make it sound to others, it really does come down to obstacle or opportunity. It comes down to "got to" or "get to". There is no day like today. You don't have to go to a special place, or say some special prayer, you simply have to repent of your previous way of thinking and repent or change your mind. Seeing our unworthiness in light of Him, we then come to the cross and accept the payment that Jesus so freely offered. Now with Him as Lord of our lives we get to experience that freedom that only He can offer. He does not want us to spend even one more day in the rat race.