“This is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it!”
Psalm 118:24
“BEEP-BEEP-BEEP” As I reach over groggily to turn my alarm clock off, I say in a half-awake whisper, “this is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” After my bare feet pad their way over to the bathroom sink so I can throw water on my face to help me wake up, I say more confidently with a smile on my face, “this is the day the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.” As my baby lays on the changing table after waking up I sing to him, “This is the day, this is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it…”.
Why this morning mantra you ask? The Bible describes our mind as a battlefield (Romans 7:23). As believers we have the Holy Spirit living inside us wanting to transform us through the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2). Unfortunately there is also a very real enemy out there who is described as the father of lies (John 8:44). He takes great pleasure in trying to make us succumb to the doubt, discouragement and deceit he whispers in our ears.
The Bible places great emphasis on godly knowledge and wisdom. And because I have the knowledge that my mind is a battlefield, I wisely choose to start my day primed for victory! Instead of waking up and dejectedly thinking about how many more hours of sleep your body is craving, or how many household chores await your presence, or how you can keep your little ones entertained at the hospital while their older sibling gets a check-up, I encourage you to instead begin your day rejoicing in the Lord and telling yourself that whatever God requires of you today (and everyday), you can do all things (rejoicing) through Him who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13).
Noree Wegmeyer
photo credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photographer/asura-45946
At this point in our passage, we see Jesus spending time “alone” with His disciples. The value and importance of spending quality time alone with God is immeasurable. It is essential that we are spending time daily reading the Scriptures, talking with the Lord in prayer, and listening for His response. Today, make a plan (if you haven’t already) to set up a daily quiet time with the Lord. Take a moment to simply “be still” in the presence of God. Ask Him to meet with you in a personal way and to refresh your spirit.
I want to know God’s will for my life, don’t you? Sometimes it is so hard to distinguish between what God’s will is for you and your will for you. By this, I mean, it is difficult to determine whether it is the plans that God has established for your life, or the plans you have organized for yourself. Sometimes these plans align, while other times, they do not. It is very important to recognize the fact that we need to have a proper perspective of who we are before we can grasp what the Lord wants us to do. Once we realize who we are and what our purpose is, we can then fulfill the things that the Lord has in store for us – pursuing Him faithfully. The Lord loves you and who you are. He wants to use you to do amazing things, so say yes to Him! Say yes to God every day, allowing Him to grow closer to you and forming you into the person that He has called you to be. Trust in His plans and in His timing, because His timing is perfect and His plans are perfect. He knew what His plans were for you before you were even born. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. (Jeremiah 1:5) God has created you with a purpose, so let’s fulfill it!