Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
This is my challenge, my comfort, my release, my hope and points to the source of my JOY.
Simple, yet packed full…”THIS IS THE DAY…” Not this may be the moment. Not this is the opportunity. But the full, jammed packed 24 hours… THIS… every single second of THIS day – is given to you. The Lord brought the sun up this morning and will bring it down low in its time. The air that we breathe, the clouds that produce rain, the flowers, and the trees – all depend on His say so. This entire day is brought to you by the Lord and is meant to point you to Him.
And we are to REJOICE and be glad IN it as we walk through it.
How does that even work? Especially since we live in a fallen world that is in upheaval all around us? When we can’t make ends meet, or the floor has seemed to give way underneath our very feet? How can we just REJOICE?
TRUTH ALERT: His joy is not dependent on what the day holds – but who holds onto your day.
Instead of seeing the day as filled with “dandelion dust” that scatters – he offers it to you whole, for a purpose … do you …do I – trust Him enough to work in it and through it? What’s more is that He doesn’t give you something to fill the day and then step back to watch you struggle with it. He never leaves you. That is a promise and something to remember.
I have learned that whatever comes my way today– although it will likely hold many highs and lows- the truth that He made it, that He is good, that He is faithful, that He is perfect, and able to work far beyond what I could possible see or imagine – brings me peace as I trust in Him… Joy isn’t an ability to paste on a smile – it is deeper than that. JOY is going beyond the moment and focusing on the eternal.
This IS the day that the Lord has made – and I WILL rejoice and be glad in it!
Today is only a bunch of moments tightly woven together and His perfect and loving plan for you is forever. He will use your today, if you let Him, for your tomorrow. Praise Him for what He has done and what He is going to do – Take part in His gift of TODAY with confidence, hope, and thankfulness. The Joy and peace will come as will the strength for whatever you are facing.
Blessings!