"This is the Day" By Steve Backlund
“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
Psalm 118 is a treasure chest of powerful beliefs to strengthen through declarations.
Here are some of them:
“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (vs 6)
“The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation” (vs 14)
“I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the Lord” (vs 17)
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone” (vs 22)
“This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it” (vs 24)
Let’s examine verse 24.
This is the day
The question to ask ourselves in the morning is not, “How do I feel today?” No, the better question is, “What will I believe today?” The psalmist says, “This is the day.” He is declaring it is a day of significance. Each day has unlimited potential for salvation to manifest. “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
As we stir up childlike wonder and excitement in the beginning of a day, it increases the likelihood of partnering with what God will do. “Look up and see the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35).
The Lord has made
The idea that there is no God defies logic. If something exists now, something has always existed. And because matter is wearing out and losing energy, it has a beginning. It is not eternal. It could not have appeared out of nothing. The only other conclusion then is that there is a God.
The Lord has made today with a purpose and unlimited potential. In many ways, it is a blank canvas for us to paint a beautiful picture to be put on God’s refrigerator.
We will
There is great power in declaring what we purpose to do. It is the most important part of wedding ceremonies. It is central to our decision to be a follower of Jesus. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).
As we begin our day, it is impactful to pronounce to ourselves what we will do:
I will love my family today
I will be generous today
I will release miracles today
Rejoice
“I will rejoice.” This is a decision to stir up the joy of the Lord. This is not passive, but demonstrative. The Hebrew word implies spinning around while doing this. The psalmist says he plans to passionately rejoice.
Our worship is not only to be deep, eyes closed intimate times, but it is also to be celebratory dance times full of rejoicing. Indeed, rejoicing is an expression of faith.
And be glad in it
“We will be glad in it.” The psalmist also says he intends to be glad - which is a feeling of pleasure, happiness, cheerfulness, or satisfaction that shows in the face.
“God has anointed you (Jesus) with the oil of gladness beyond your companions” (Hebrews 1:9). Jesus was the most glad being on the planet. He created a culture of gladness around Him. Great leaders, great parents, and great friends create a culture of gladness around them. This does not mean they are insensitive to people’s pain, but regular gladness creates a culture where people feel loved, liked, and free.
Conclusion
All of heaven gets behind quality decisions. Why don’t you decide with me that this is the day the Lord has made, and it is a day to rejoice and be glad in it.