This is the Day

Psalm 118:24 – “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Arthur Smith used to open every show with this verse in song, “This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”  It’s a praise the born again believer should be able to sing every day, for every day is a new day in which to glorify God.  A humorous e-mail I received recently contained the following: “If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!”  How true, even though comical.  George Burns used to include in his routine the observation, “It’s good to be here tonight.  At my age it’s good to be anywhere.”  What a healthy way to look at each new day.

Yet so often, we don’t look at each new day as an opportunity to praise God.  We look at new days as drudgeries – we drag out of bed – drag into the shower – drag to the breakfast table – drag to our cars – drag in to work – drag through the day – drag home at the end of the day – drag to bed – again and again and again.  Where’s the rejoicing?  Where’s the being glad?  Your life is only as exciting as you make it!  If you look at it as a drudgery then it will be a drudgery – if you look at it as an opportunity then it will be an opportunity.  An opportunity to do what?  Here are some suggestions:

Get closer to God.  We can begin each day with a positive attitude if we get out of bed and say “Good Morning” to the Lord.  Go to God right away in prayer.  David says, “Early will I seek thee (Ps 63:1).”  Again, “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up (Ps 5:3).”  Isaiah says, “I will seek thee early (Isa 26:9).”  Have a short time of Bible reading before you defile your mind with the world, while your mind is fresh from a good night’s sleep.  “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Ps 119:18).”  While driving to work, sing praises to God.  “But I will sing of thy power; yea I will sing loud of thy mercy in the morning (Ps 59:16).”  We will be surprised at how doing these things will build our personal relationship with Christ, and God will surely bless us.

Tell others about God.  Look at every new day as an opportunity to tell someone the great gospel of Christ.  Just tell someone what God has done for you – share your testimony – invite someone to church – get in the habit of using phrases like “God bless you,” or “Praise the Lord,” or “Hasn’t the Lord been good to us to give us a new day?”  Statements like that testify to others without your even realizing it.  Carry gospel tracts in your pocket or purse – lay one down in the restroom – on the lunch counter – at the gas pump – anywhere you can.  If we’ll use every day as an opportunity to spread the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, God will surely bless us.

Let others see God in us.  How oft we have heard, “You are the only Bible some people will ever read.”  Does this make you pause and reflect on what they are reading in you?  Christ instructs us to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Mat 5:16).”  It’s a fact of Scripture that no man can see God and live, so it is crucial that we reflect His glory so that they can see God through us.  We can be a light in a lost and dying world and let others see Christ through us, and God will surely bless us.

Dr. Harold Sightler used to tell his church/school staff, “I don’t ever want to hear one of you say ‘Thank God it’s Friday.’  Every day around here is just as important as the next.  Use each day to do God’s work here in this place.”  What a wonderful way to look at each new day – as an opportunity to please the Master.

Quote – “Take courage.  We walk in the wilderness today, the Promised Land tomorrow.” – D.L. Moody

"Lord, Thank you for this new day.  Help us to live it for you.  Help us to give it back to you and let you get praise from it.  May we treat each new day as a special gift from you.  Amen."