WATCHWORD:
20This is the gate of the Lord, Through which the righteous shall enter. 21 I will praise You, For You have answered me, And have become my salvation. 22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This was the Lord’s doing; It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:20-24 KJV
Meditation:
Rejoice. I Say It Again Rejoice
“This is the day the Lord has made…” How often have we said that over the years? But the question is, how often have you finished it with “…and I will rejoice and be glad in it”, and actually, did rejoice and was actually glad? Or did you wake up to a day that the Lord made, and you found yourself in a dark shadow, filled with worries and concerns?
My experience is that there are days when I wake up truly amazed at how rested I feel, and fresh, and ready to face the day that the Lord has made. That’s when my time with the Lord is so peaceful and I feel a sense of joy, deep inside. That’s not hyperbole, that’s just a statement of fact.
But then, there are other times. You know what I’m talking about. Sometimes it’s just plain hard to get out of bed, and face a day filled with so much “stuff” you’d rather not deal with. I think on those days our Lord wants to grab me by the nap of my neck and shake me, and tell me to my face “Make a decision not to worry about those things, give them to Me!”
What you and I both need, on those days when it’s dim and dark and we are filled with worry, is a miracle. You know a common, every day miracle, the kind that happens to us almost every minute, of every day, if we will only pay attention. He tells us, in no uncertain terms, that He can weave miracles into the most complicated or the most mundane matters if you keep your focus on Him.
Sometimes I wonder if we take reading the Bible like we are reading a novel, or a documentary, or a science report, or something other than God speaking directly to us, with the full knowledge that what he speaks is truth and life. He means what he says. When he says, he’ll supply all our needs. He means that. When he says be at peace, he means at, too. When he says be anxious for nothing, and to thank him for the peace he gives, and you receive his promise that he will guard your hearts and minds through Jesus. Guess what? He means all of that! All of that!
This IS the day. This IS the day. Whatever you do, don’t let “yesterday” stick it’s all used-up head into THIS DAY that God has created just for you! Make a decision to rejoice and be glad, despite any shadows that might lurk around! Sing a song! Anything. “This Little Light of Mine”,
“Amazing Grace”, or “Jesus Love Me This I Know”. Why? Because THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO! Amen.
Closing Prayer:
Good Morning Heavenly Father, I rejoice in the truth that this is the day, this is the day,
that You made just for me. Lord, I have decided to rejoice, to celebrate, and to sing praises to You. I am so grateful for the gladness that you replaced within me, just waiting for me to decide to experience it by praising you. I know that your graces will carry me through this day, and the knowledge of that fact makes tears of joy come to my eyes. I know that this is the day you have made and it will be special, every minute of it. It will be filled with miracles, placed there by your nail-scarred hands. You are my Lord and Savior, you gave up everything in a death you didn’t deserve, to give to me this day, free and clear, and filled with joy, all of which I don’t deserve. Thank you, blessed Savior. Amen.
