“This Is The Day”

“This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (Ps. 118:24) 

Some days when I rise, I really don’t welcome the day. In fact it seems I’m immediately bombarded with negative thoughts; thoughts of all the bad news in the world…. the problems in our country, the world, the church, family issues, health issues, friends who have passed, and then I can move to the miserable status of the Football Giants and the Cardinals. Are you serious—- the Redbirds finished last in their division for the first time in 33 years. The Giants have scored 46 points in 4 games and given up 122…… are you serious !!!! 

If I allow the “bad news” to land on my head when I open my eyes in the morning, it can be a long day. I need to quickly “get my head on straight” and focus on the eternal truths and not the temporary disasters. Psalm 118 can really help me.

Some 40 years ago I went to an early morning Bible study in Easton, PA. We had a visitor who led us to sing Psalm 188:24 ten times in a row and see what happens. Hmmmmmm, I like the song, but to be honest I usually wasn’t very focused on the words and I wasn’t very enthusiastic in singing it 10 times in a row. Nevertheless, we began:

“This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made, that the Lord has made
let us rejoice, let us rejoice, and be glad in it, and be glad in it

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us  rejoice and be glad in it

This is the day, this is the day, that the Lord has made.“

The first 2-3 times I was still not very focused on the words, but then I began to actually think about these words and believe what I was singing. By the time we were near the end, the words were capturing my heart…… “this is the day the  Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it….” By the 10^th or 12^th time, my heart was starting to soar with the truth of these powerful words from God. 

This day is a gift from God! It’s not some throw away that I can rush to get through. This gift of life, this day given to me by God to live, is previous and of great value ….. I need to rejoice in this gift and be glad in it. One day, these precious gifts on earth will end for me. When my days come to an end, I may long for just one more day, maybe one more hour, maybe one more minute. 

Today, this day, I have an opportunity to love God with my whole heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love my neighbor as myself….  a chance to love my wife, my children & family, my friends, even my enemies. I have one more day to serve the Lord and do his will… one more day to accomplish the works he has given me to do. This is the day the Lord has made and given to me as a gift. May I value it with all my strength.

So when we rise today, let’s proclaim Psalm 118:24 and ask for the grace to use this beautiful gift of life serving the Lord. And as we do this, this will be very good news.