This is the day that the Lord hath made and I will ........ Gee, What will I do?

Devotional Reading: Psalm 118,


Probably one of the best known and often mentioned as an individuals favorite life scripture is verse 24: "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." What a wonderful acknowledgement of the wonders of God's grace in our lives, the often overlooked wonder of His daily provision for the essentials of life. No matter how good or bad the day is -- the message is this -- This is the day that the Lord hath made. Now all the Psalmist and we have to do is figure out just what to do with it, that we can all rejoice and be glad in it.

• I will give thanks "Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. (verse 1) Sometimes remembering to give thanks or to say thanks is taken for granted. We tend to get caught up in the hurried and fast paced moments of our human condition and forget that someone said 'good morning' or smiled at us. It might have been someone opened the door for us when our hands were full or offered to bring us a cup of coffee or warm up the danish in the microwave. It might be that we had a long day at work and walked by our spouses, children or loved ones with out saying hello or I love you. Whatever it may be, all too often we forget or only half heartily say "I thank God for you."
• I will call on Him in my distress "I called to the LORD in distress; the LORD answered me and put me in a spacious place." (verse 5)  When we are having one of those difficult days (and who doesn't?) - a day when the storms are blowing every which way, and the battle for peace and prosperity is not going very well, when hearts get broken and the tears begin to fall, when it feels that everyone is against you; then it is time to thank God for the day the moment and the opportunity He gave you to pray to Him.

Perhaps your day is full of overwhelming burdens or sorrows - recall that during His life, Jesus suffered greatly. He suffered through 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness, He suffered through mockery in the streets; through public humiliation. He was spat on and suffered death threats, false witness, through horrific beatings, carrying his cross to Golgotha and finally crucifixion leading to His death. Jesus accepted this as the day the Lord had made Even though the disciples could not see the blessings He was imparting to them, they could not understand God's ways or recognize Him as your Savior, He will still come along side of you and give to you and also teach you what you'll need to begin to heal and prosper (Luke 24:13-35). 

• I will take refuge in the Lord and trust in His plan not mine. "It is better to take refuge in the LORD 
  than to trust in man." (verse 8) This verse is located at the very center of the Bible. The very central idea of what God's desires of us in our relationship and connection with Him. Proverbs 3:5-6 " Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Not such an easy thing to do because we are stubborn and prideful and generally detest anything or anybody that takes away any sense of our self control.
• When I am feeling weakened, I will take the strength of the Lord as my own. "You pushed me hard to make me fall, but the LORD helped me. The LORD is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation (verses 13-14). Allowing to ourselves to accept God's strength as our own takes care of the demands of life. Where do you look for strength? Your life experience? Your good health? Your riches that you have carefully stored away somewhere? Your wonderful or not so wonderful job? All these things are fleeting in nature. They rust away, they deteriorate over time, they are not always the most reliable and not so many come with lifetime warranties that you can actually collect on. The only true, unchangeable source of strength in weakness is the joy of the Lord  (Nehemiah 8:10) - and I will sing and shout and raise my voice to rejoice to that all the live long day. 
• When I am lost in life's human condition, He will become my salvation. (verse 14) This will take care of the dangers of life. Victims of Bullying comes to mind as does domestic abuse, criminal acts, war and so many other circumstances that challenges our sense of self worth or worldly value. God will deliver us and is always at our side. (verses 16 - 17): "The LORD’s right hand is raised. 
  The LORD’s right hand performs valiantly!” I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done."  That right hand is and ever shall be ready to come along side us (Psalm 18).

Psalm 118:19-29: 

Open unto me the Gates of Righteousness that I may enter in ..... For this is the day that the Lord hath made and I will rejoice .... I will be thankful ..... I will be prayerful ...... I will take refuge ....... I will feel strong ...... I will be saved AND be glad in it.

Let us pray: (verses 25-29)

²⁵ LORD, save us! 
LORD, please grant us success! 
²⁶ He who comes in the name 
of the LORD is blessed. 
From the house of the LORD we bless you. 
²⁷ The LORD is God and has given us light. 
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords 
to the horns of the altar. 
²⁸ You are my God, and I will give You thanks. 
You are my God; I will exalt You. 
²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; 
His faithful love endures forever. AMEN