Here are four ways that God can use you today.

Encourage Someone Today

I recently read that smiling is as contagious as yawning. So is encouraging someone. Paul wrote that we should “encourage one another and build one another up" (1 Thess. 5:11) and not tear each other down. They say it takes ten positive words to build someone up who’s been discouraged by one bad word. Why not build someone up today? Up is where heaven is anyway, and that’s where we’re headed, right?

Give to Someone Today

Have you given someone something today? You can, if it’s still early. It doesn’t have to be money. You can give of yourself. You can hold the door open for someone. You can pick something up that they drop. You can smile at them, shake their hand, or give them a hug. Give yourself away. The interesting thing is the more of yourself that you give away, the more you actually receive in blessings. Paul reminds us to “remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’" (Acts 20:35).

Visit Someone Today

I had a friend come into town recently, whom I hadn’t seen for a long time. It was refreshing to catch up on things, but you can also pick up the phone and call someone today, email someone, send an unexpected “thinking of you" card. Whatever you do, try to go out of your way and visit or talk to someone today that you normally don’t talk to or see. Make it a special, no-occasion thing. Paul tells us to “do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves" (Phil. 2:3).

Thank Someone Today

I believe that one of the greatest sins a Christian can commit is the sin of omission. It is the failure to give thanks to God but also to others. On occasions, I just tell my wife “thank you for…" and then start listing the many things she does. Paul said, “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you" (Phil. 1:3). I like to borrow Paul’s line and tell people I thank God for them–for being my wife, daughter, son, friend, etc. Even a thank-you note makes a great and lasting impression. It costs very little, but, oh, the benefits they and you reap are priceless.