This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I think of this verse a lot when I think of worshipping God. I was taught a song as a very small child that repeats this verse. This Scripture has been part of my life as long as I can remember. My Sunday school and music teachers knew this verse too: I will be glad in it and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2NIV Right now though, in this particular season of life, Rejoice in this day? This one? There is so much crazy, so much unknown, so much trouble! Rejoice?

So often I want to rejoice when every thing on my to do list gets checked off. Rejoice when my husband and I get to go on a date night. Rejoice when I find a great deal. Rejoice when my plans come together. Rejoice when my children are doing well. This is easy! I can so get on board with rejoicing in these kinda days.

It’s just that…. the verse says, “This is the day that the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Doesn’t say in parenthesis when all is going right, or rejoice on certain days a year because those are really the ones God made. It says rejoice in this day, meaning God created this one. The rejoice comes from the fact that God made the day! He brought the sun up, he orchestrated and created this day, he put breath in our lungs for this day.

We are so conditioned in, “its all about me”, and that we are to be so glad when “our day” went right. In reality, IT IS NOT OUR DAY! It is the LORD”S DAY! He made this earth, he set it in motion, he gives each human and animal and plant its life. We are to rejoice in Him! Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13 NIV

Not to say we don’t have hard days, sad days, days we feel angry. God knows our human condition and he knows we have emotions, hopes dreams and expectations. He knows the sin in us and around us. He wants us to keep in mind, in all the days, He made them and he is with us in every moment of the day. He never once leaves us, and this is something to rejoice in. We are reminded God knows what we face, the psalmist says, “I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. Psalm 31:7“NIV

Keeping the rejoice mindset is a challenge on its own. We can walk in the knowing it’s God’s day and we are walking along side him. We can rejoice knowing he is celebrating along with us when we are thriving. He is also with us when everything falls apart. We can rejoice that He is sovereign. He is on His throne, He is in control. Even when life seems to us to be spiraling out of control in our view, he is not afraid. He is not shaken. Rejoicing in Him keeps our hearts focused on the big picture, his eternal promises. But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5NIV This scripture reminds us to keep the perspective on the eternal. So when the temptation comes to not worship God because we had a bad day, we can recall the Scripture, knowing God made this day and he will see us through and has a beautiful eternity prepared for all those in Christ.

Praying we ask him to help us to rejoice in him and this day he made. May my mediation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD. Psalm 104:34 NIV Let us be glad we have such a loving God to do every moment of life with. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices, my body will also rest in hope. Acts 2:26 NIV

This is the day the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

Reminded to Rejoice,

Priscilla Hale