this is the day
Photo by Gaurav K
"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24
The verse above is such an uplifting, often sung, often quoted, and happy verse. I remember singing this particular verse over and over as a young child in Sunday school, clapping, jumping, and dancing around the preschool Sunday school classroom.
This is the day! This is the day that the Lord hath made, that the Lord hath made. I will rejoice. I will rejoice and be glad in it and be glad in it! This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!
Mrs. Clawson, who recently, just a few days shy of turning 90, went to be with the Lord, she was that Sunday school teacher that forever left her mark on the hearts of many a children.
She was a Sunday school teacher for 55 years at the same small church in Colfax, IN, and she taught this song to me as a child and it has always stuck in my mind and goes through my head quite often when I see a beautiful sunrise or sunset, when I’m at the ocean on the beach, or in the mountains, or when things in life are going great!
It’s actually one of my favorite scriptures. I’ve quoted it and heard it quoted most frequently when, “life is good,” and when everything’s going as planned. After all, who doesn’t feel joyful and like praising the Lord when life is going along smoothly as we want and as we planned it to go?
I’m not quite sure many of us who quote this scripture fully realize the depth of depravity and anguish, the author, quite possibly King David, had experienced prior to penning these words of thankfulness. The author had been in distress, surrounded on all sides by the enemy, they sought his life, yet in his darkest hours and in danger, he chose to trust in God and to declare the good works of the Lord.
photo by Samuel Martins @samuelmartins7
This is a significant passage because it tells of God’s love and faithfulness, but also provides an example of people turning to God to thank Him for His goodness and provision. These words should actually serve as a reminder to us that true joy should never be dependent upon our circumstances. Many of us know this in our heads, but walking it out in times of trial, or even trying to on a daily basis is a whole other story.
We are living in some very challenging times. I’ve said it many times before, and I am saying it again because we cannot deny it or ignore it, this world is upside down. This world is broken and full of darkness. People are lost, hurting, divided, angry, scared, sad, confused, and apathetic…and it’s not just the unbelievers.
photo by Ben Hershey @benhershey
“I'm convinced that millions of people today don't know the Lord because of the long faced, poor, suffering-little-me, self-sacrificing, tell-everybody-all-their-troubles Christians who act like their second birth [becoming a Christian] was just as painful to them as their first one was to their mothers. ”Zig Ziglar
As believers who have accepted Jesus and profess to walk in a new light filled with hope and assurance, we can be guilty of walking around with a sour face, shoulders slouched as if we are carrying the weight of the world’s problems, as if we are Atlas, the hero of Greek mythology who carried the weight of the heavens on his shoulders.
photo by Siddhant Kumar @saytosid
But the difference is, we’re not Atlas, we know the truth and the source of hope. We shouldn’t be walking around with upside down smiles [aka frowns], heads down, shoulders all slumped with the burdens of this world because we do know The One who does carry the weight of the world, so we don’t have to, and this is the Good News those of us in Christ need to share with a broken world.
We need to be lights shining so bright in this world that people are drawn to us, and those who are around us or know us, want to know our secret. Those of us who know the Lord and the hope we profess to have in Him should never blend in or look like everyone else. We should praise God in the good times, give thanks to Him in the difficult times for all the times He has already provided for us, knowing He’s got “this” situation too, and give Him praise and thanks for the times we are confident He will provide in the future.
photo by Nathan Anderson @nathananderson
Matthew 5:13-16 tells us, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
The author of Psalm 118 is encouraging believers to live out gratitude and faith in this broken world. We have the secret people long for and need to hear. Every single day we are alive, and breathing is a gift from God. This Day, and Every day that The Lord has made, are days we should be glad and have joy so contagious that people can’t resist it.
photo by Edwin Andrade @theunsteady5
This doesn’t mean that we never have pain or grief. It doesn’t mean that we pretend that life is a bed of roses, and we are never sad or broken. That is not at all what I am alluding to, nor is this something I have mastered. However, our testimonies are best received by others, especially non-believers, when they are authentic. Our goal should be to try to find joy in all circumstances of life’s challenges because true joy is possible in all circumstances through Jesus.
Here is what we know…
photo by David Lezcano @_thedl
1. Jesus says that we have only this one day, today, and we must not be anxious for tomorrow. Even though things may have gone badly before, it can be completely new and glorious today.
2. We must learn to live as if each day were our last. Today could be the only day, the last day we have, to show all goodness and love to each other.
3. Today we are to give God the glory in everything we say and do and let our light shine through the darkness of this world.
4. We should be glad and rejoice over each day. It is the Lord who has made today and planned it for us. He is faithful and promises that all things will work together for our good. (Romans 8:28)
5. In Christ, with His strength, we will have abundant grace today and everyday, to walk in whatever He has prepared for us. (Ephesians 2:10)
6. It is today that we shall endure, suffer, and bear everything with joy, fully believing that God is in control. Today we shall be bold and not lose courage, but rather look to the things that are not seen, because then our tribulations will be light and temporary and will work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
7. Today, we choose between life and good and death and evil by either receiving or rejecting the laws of the Spirit of life written in my heart. “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: ‘Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts…’” Hebrews 3:7-8.
8. Today’s decisions are crucial for eternity! Jesus will come to fetch those who are waiting for Him today and are ready to meet Him. They are the children of light and of the day.
9. Today…This is the day the Lord has made!
(Paraphrased and quoted from: Active Christianity)
phot by Khadeeja Yasser @k_yasser
No matter what obstacles a believer faces, God is always present, and He offers grace, mercy, strength, and peace to anyone who is willing to come to Him with open hearts.
Mrs. Clawson, my Sunday school teacher from over fifty years ago lived her life this way. She was not a woman who escaped this life without pain. She lost her parents, a brother, her husband, a son, and a grandson, and yet she praised God in all circumstances, and she was a light in the lives of more children than one could ever know. She understood that each day was a day that The Lord had made, and she was glad, and grateful, and she rejoiced.
photo by Jasmin Ne @jasminnb
Author and writer Debbie McDaniel sums all of this up beautifully in her blog post, This-is-the-day-that-the-lord-has-made-Debbie McDaniel.
McDaniel says, “We might be facing the toughest of times right now, but the truth is this, He's still given us breath for today. Jesus came to give us hope and freedom, He’s the very reason we can live with joy right in the battles and have peace that is unexplainable to the world. He's with us and will never leave or fail us. His love covers us, He gives us the strength to face every trial and obstacle with courage and grace. We can rest in the security that Truth brings.”
You might be facing some huge giants, but be confident, that no matter what you’re up against, God’s love for you is unchanging. He is a constant you can always count on.
As it is written, “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
Peace to you all, as you live this day with His huge power and grace.
I love You, Lord
For Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
In the darkest night
You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God (yeah)
And all my life You have been faithful (oh)
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God (yeah)
'Cause Your goodness is running after
It's running after me
Your goodness is running after
It's running after me
With my life laid down
I'm surrendered now
I give You everything
'Cause Your goodness is running after
It's running after me
