01/05/2021
Do you wake up every morning refreshed and feeling amazing? Do you think that because you are a Christian then each day should begin wonderfully and happily? Well here is a little secret... Christians have bad days like everyone else, the difference isn’t in waking up in a state of perpetual joy, it is in knowing how to deal with life when our feet hit the floor and we are feeling out of sorts.
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!”
Psalm 30:11-12 ESV
So how is your day today, and were your first words honestly “Lord, thank you for this day!” when you were anything but happy, or confident that today would even be marginally tolerable? We are to trust in God’s provision of our needs... even providing us with joy, happiness, and song.
“Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly,”
Psalm 118:15 ESV
Make this your habit, don’t open your eyes with yesterday’s problems on your mind, or by wondering if today will be a happy day, and any better than yesterday. No, before you think a single thought, or clear the sleep from your eyes, say out loud “Lord, thank you for this day!”, and begin to pray... pray scripture that will lift you up. Take Psalm 118 as an example...
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 ESV
You are probably saying to me “Really? That sounds so contrived!” I know that Psalm because I sang it as a child; but do you expect me to believe that praying for joy will actually solve my problems?” My response to you is this... “Perhaps you need to read the next verse in that Psalm!” Listen to it...
“Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!”
Psalm 118:25 ESV
Life was not a breeze for this psalmist, but he teaches us how to face such days. First we prepare ourselves by trusting in God, and claiming His victory over our sorrow, even before He defeats what is troubling us, and then we fill ourselves with God’s joy... knowing that He is with us, and His help is certain. Our joy is the fruit of our trust in Him, and Jesus Christ, nailed to the cross, is our sacrifice. God’s promises come like the glow of dawn that proceeds the rising sun... our joy is indeed the glow of God’s answer... it gives us hope in the coming brightness of His provision.
“The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!”
Psalm 118:27 ESV
So we have bad days like all men, but as Christians we face our troubles much differently... we establish good habits for ourselves that will reinforce our faith. We give thanks for what we know in our heart is coming soon, we claim through prayer our joy as the fruit of our trust in His Word, and then we wait expectedly for the sun to rise... bringing His help, and His answer with it. Our joy and happiness isn’t in response to God’s answer, or His provision... No, it is founded in trust, and having faith that those things he has promised are coming.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for this day and your many blessings! Thank you Lord for all that you will provide me today, and every moment of joy that I will experience as I await your promised rescue, and provision. I pray in the name of your Son Jesus Christ my savior, redeemer, and your Son. I know that in this way, and by praying within your will, as He did, my prayers will be answered, and my thanks will join with your joy in me as I praise your name. Make my days happy Father, and bearable by my joy and trust in you. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you my God who makes my every day, and brings your joy, as the fruit of my trust, to me as a comfort in my unsettled days. Praised be your name Lord for all you provide me, and for the promise of what lies ahead. You are merciful Holy Father, and give me hope. Your grace allows me to trust that you will save me even when my faith wavers, and my doubt attempts to steal your joy from me. Help me Father to open my eyes to you each morning, and to reestablish the joy that I can only find in you, and Jesus. Hear my prayers, and hear the name of Jesus as I pray them. Cover my prayerful desires, and my sins, with His blood, and precious name. Find me worthy through them of your promised provision, and the eternal life I joyously know is coming.
“You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!”
Psalm 118:28-29 ESV
Rich Forbes