Verse: Psalm 118:24 (ESV)
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Devotion
This verse from Psalms has been in my heart the past two weeks. It was a song that I learned as a child, and for whatever reason it has just been stuck in my heart lately. Because of that I’ve been thinking about it and praying about it. Why is it in my heart? What is God trying to say to me? So I want to share briefly what God is saying to me about this.

Basically I’ve been wondering, “what if I began to act and live like each day was a gift?” It is so easy to just go from day to day to day to week to week to week to year to year to year — and just go through life. One day after another. Taking it all for granted. What if I really believed THIS is the day the Lord has made? Emphasis on THIS. TODAY is the day that God has given me.

I wake up in the morning today, and TODAY is a gift. Not that God makes every day – but God made today. This day. For me. For you. This day is a gift. And if I view it like that, can I rejoice (be full of joy in some translations) and be glad in it? Can I be grateful for today? Can I be full of joy because God has given me another day?

What if instead of taking it for granted that I’m alive another day, I honestly learned to see it as a gift. It is a gift I am breathing today. It is a gift that the sun rises again. It is a gift that I have loved ones. It is a gift that I have a job, or a school, or friends, or sports, or whatever!

This day, TODAY, is a gift from God – and therefore I will rejoice! Said another way, TODAY is a gift from God and therefore I will rejoice to see God in it! God has chosen in his mercy and grace to give me another day, where and how will I see his face and his hand at work today?

I think this perspective changes my attitude. It makes me less likely to complain. It gives me a greater sense of purpose each day. “Well if God made this day specifically – allotted the time for it to be a day in my life – there must be a reason I’m here!” It gives me a deeper sense of gratitude to God.

So that’s what God’s been doing in my heart – I hope it encourages you today! Because TODAY IS THE DAY GOD HAS MADE FOR YOU – LET’S FIND HIM IN IT AND REJOICE!

Author: Christian Dunn