The Day and Life the Lord Has Made

When I am on the pulpit, I welcome those sitting before me with the message found in Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” However, after a brief pause, I add, “no matter what happens.”

I’ve also been saying, “This is the life the Lord has made, I will be glad and rejoice in it, no matter what happens.”

Yes, each day, and indeed our lives, are gifts from God, gifts we should be happy to open up to see what is inside. Our focus should be on this day, not what came before or what will happen tomorrow.

Romans 8:28 tells us that all things will work together for our good, and the Lord will provide us grace and strength to walk in them.

In the song, “Count Your Blessings”, we are challenged in the face of the great and small conflicts life brings our way to name one by one all the Lord has done for us. The foundation of this practice is the reality that God is in control of our lives from beginning to end.

Take a deep breath. Relax, count your blessings one by one, even those blessings disguised as challenges, as negatives in your mind. List them on paper. Revisit them on a regular basis and add to them. Even note why they are blessings. Blessings you thought were not, and why.

As hard as it may be, and it is hard sometimes, we need to endure, suffer, and bear everything with joy. Why? Because God is in control.

It is a great blessing today or any day, when we are allowed the privilege of just seeing the birth of another beautiful day. Many of us take for granted that another day is coming and life will go on. If we could just realize how important that just “Today is”, and live it as it might be our last day.