THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE; I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
This
Today, not tomorrow. I do not need to worry about any of them, and that includes today. I may focus freely on what God has place ahead of me in the next 24 hours, one moment at a time.
Is
Not "was." Not "will be." IS. Right here and now. All planning for today has led me to this moment. What will I do with it now? Every moment that goes by is either lost or gained ground for the rest of my life, and eternity.
The
Today is no ordinary day. It will never be repeated, and is not just one out of thousands that I will live.
Day
24 hours. 1,440 minutes. 86,400 seconds. Tick tock, tick tock. I thank God for the daily "reset" he gives us.
That the Lord
The one with authority over all the universe is the one bringing me this day, this sunrise, this rain, and these moments. He has authority to determine its outocome and its contents, and I can TRUST Him.
has made
So much of life seems random, disconnected... but Today is not such a thing. The Lord has preordained moments for me today; some of them mundane, or so they may seem. But every moment, every second, is part of His plan, and has been since long before the creation of the universe.
I
Even though God has made this new day, He has left the choice of how to respond to it open to me. I am free to reject what He has created, free to call it a bad day, free to whine, free to complain, free to procrastinate, and free to hit the snooze button all day long. Each morning brings me a new opportunity to respond to His creation.
Will
The key word for me is right here. Rejoicing in today is a choice, an act of will power. Will my circumstances always change because I simply choose to "make it" a good day? NO, first of all, because I'm not the one making it a good day; God already has. Opening my eyes and choosing to respond with thanksgiving and praise is a choice that may not change my attitude, but it WILL open my eyes - to the world, to the day, and to myself.
Rejoice
I wonder what this word means. I"m sure it has something to do with joy. Maybe it means something like "repeating joy" or something. Not just a moment of thanks, a quick prayer in the morning, but an attitude of praise, worship, and thankfulness that can go on all day, no matter what I may face.
And
I don't have to stop at the grumbled prayer, "ok, today is a good day." I can step forward into real action. I can let the acts of my will affect the attitude of my heart and the outflow of it through my actions.
Be Glad
The goal here is not jus a moment of happiness, or a quick smile or a hug. This entire day is a gift, and I am free to BE glad all the day. Sad moments (short and long) will certainly come (and I could list a few right now), but they need not change the fact that I can still be in constant praise of my Lord, the creator of the universe, and this moment.
In It
I don't have to look outside of my life to rejoice and be glad. I believe, regardless of the situations I face, that God will place bright spots in each day, in each week, and in each stage of life where I can consciously see Him at work. I don't need to idolize someone else's life, or wish my circumstances would change. I can rejoice IN today, and ABOUT today.
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HAS MADE; I WILL REJOICE AND BE GLAD IN IT.
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