There’s a subtle but powerful mindset shift that can transform the way we experience daily life: moving from “I have to” to “I get to.”
Think about it—how many things in your life today were once prayer requests?
- That job you now complain about? You prayed for that open door.
- The children who exhaust you? You begged God for them.
- The spouse who sometimes frustrates you? You cried out for companionship.
Even something as ordinary as paying a bill reveals this truth.
It’s easy to sigh, “Ugh, I have to pay the electric bill.” But that bill represents the blessing of light, heat, cooling, and convenience. “You’re not just paying a bill —it’s an act of gratitude for the comfort, convenience, or care you now have.”
Somewhere along the way, our perspective shifts. The blessings become burdens and the very thing we prayed for starts to feel like a chore. But stewardship begins with gratitude. Scripture reminds us:
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
When we remember that we get to serve our families, go to work, pay bills, and live out what we once only hoped for—gratitude grows. And with gratitude comes energy, joy, and purpose.
Not long ago, I caught myself grumbling as I paid the mortgage, cleaned the bathrooms, and called the plumber about a leak. The endless upkeep of owning a home felt overwhelming, and I muttered under my breath, “There’s always something with this house.”
But then the Holy Spirit gently reminded me: You prayed for this. I remembered the tiny apartment I once lived in, praying for a home—a place to host loved ones, a yard to enjoy, and a space that was truly mine.
And here I was, living in the very answer to that prayer. That realization shifted my attitude. Paying the mortgage wasn’t a burden—it was a privilege. Sweeping the floor became an act of gratitude. Everything became easier when I remembered, I get to steward what God has given me.
It’s amazing how perspective turns ordinary tasks into sacred stewardship.
Presiding Action: Practice the Shift
This week, identify 1–3 areas of your life where you’ve been saying “I have to” and intentionally replace it with “I get to.”
Here are a few ways to begin:
- Work: “I get to contribute and be a light in my workplace.”
- Parenting: “I get to be present as my child grows and learns.”
- Marriage: “I get to love my spouse through patience and service.”
- Bills: “I get to steward the provision God has given me.”
Meditate on this verse:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”
— Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Your life is filled with answers to prayer. May you steward them with joy, through the lens of “I get to.”