In Colossians 1:9-14, I notice all the beautiful verbs that remind me of the purpose of the day and, in fact, the purpose of all my days to come. Paul writes this:
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
What if our whole day, our whole week, our whole year had everything to do with these four verbs? Today, we bear fruit, we grow, we are being strengthened, we are thankful.
Ask God to prompt you into the good works for the day. Is anything coming to mind?
Choose to grow in the knowledge of God (Bible reading, theological books, sermons, podcasts). Maybe take an hour to increase your knowledge. What will you choose to read?
Realize that your hardships are part of the strengthening process.
Actively give joyful thanks. Remember you have been rescued. We rejoice for that! Christmas is about rescue.
If your day lacks shape and vision, read Colossians and reclaim your purpose.