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Psalm 118:24 - This Is A Day The LORD Has Made; Let Us Rejoice And Be Glad In It.

Psalm 118:24 - This Is A Day The LORD Has Made; Let Us Rejoice 
And Be Glad In It. 

Psalm 118:24 (NIV) This is the day the LORD has made; let us 
rejoice and be glad in it. 

   Philip Yancey brings to our attention the journal of a young 
Jewish girl, Etty Hillesum, who wrote of her dialogue with God in the 
Auschwitz concentration camp. "Sometimes when I stand in some corner of 
the camp, my feet planted on Your earth, my eyes raised toward Your 
Heaven, tears run down my face, tears of deep emotion and gratitude."  
   Yancey says that Etty knew the horrors of the death camp, 
still she wrote in her journal, "I want to be right there in the thick 
of what people call horror and still be able to say: life is 
beautiful. Yes, I lie here in a corner, parched and dizzy and feverish and 
unable to do a thing. Yet I Am Also With The Jasmine And The Piece Of 
Sky Beyond My Window."  
   Even though many of us enjoy health, plenty of open sky, and 
unlimited freedom, we often express less gratitude than Etty did for the 
wonders of God's creation. It's hard for us to imagine this young 
woman's remarkable spirit and depth of prayer in her tragic situation. 
Yet the crucible of horrendous circumstances is what sometimes 
creates unusual spiritual strength.  
   Prison chaplains speak of prisoners finding faith in the 
trauma of imprisonment.  
   Some prisoners have even said, "Thank God for prison." 
Thousands of believers behind bars live out their faith with passionate 
prayer.  
   Philip Yancey expresses awe at Etty Hillesum's "defiant 
faith," and he quotes her triumphant conclusion: "Once You Have Begun To 
Walk With God, You Need Only Keep On Walking With God And All Of Life 
Becomes One Long Stroll - A Marvelous Feeling."  
   Heavenly Father, if I were in Etty's place, it's hard to 
imagine how I could walk with you so that I'd see life as beautiful. 
Enable me to gain perspective, to walk with you each moment, responding 
to you with authentic faith. [The One Year Book of Encouragement by 
Harold Myra] 

   Some days we wake up with anything but a rejoicing spirit. We 
may not feel up to par physically. The sun may not have come out for 
a few days. Our life situation may be stressful; burdens may weigh 
heavily on our hearts. We may have experienced a loss. Unanswered 
prayers may be stacked as high as our pile of unpaid bills. Still, God 
has given us this day, and he calls us to rejoice in it. No matter 
what else is going on, God is still God, the Father, the Creator, who 
rules from his throne and declares his glory in every blade of grass, 
every bird that sings, every sunrise. Think of it - every day is new! 
His mercies are new. He has made us new creations in Christ Jesus 
and has given us a world full of his beauty. This day is another day 
to love our family and friends. It Is Another Day To Serve God, 
Another Day For Him To Extend His Kingdom Through Us. It Is Another Day 
Of Opportunity To Trust Him And See Him Work Even In The Problems 
And Difficulties We Face.  
   LORD, this is the day you have made, a place of new 
beginnings for me. You display your glory in all of creation. Help me to 
see your goodness and lift up my head and rejoice. No matter what 
happens during the next twenty-four hours, help me rejoice and be glad 
in the day you have made! And help me to see even my problems as 
one more opportunity to depend on you. [Praying Through The Bible By 
Fuller] 

   I was seventeen. My dad was dead. When I went off to college, 
everyone promised me life would soon get back to "normal." I dropped out 
after a semester, moved to another city, started at another school, 
changed majors, and dropped out ... again. How was I going to get 
through the next few years - or even just the next day - if I kept 
messing up every time I tried something new?  
   Alone in my YWCA dorm room, I searched my Bible for direction 
- and cried myself to sleep, night after night. Late one night I 
came across a simple verse in Psalm 118 that seemed to be written 
just for me. "This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and 
be glad in it." 
   Could that be true? I didn't need to face the next years; all 
I needed was to face the next day? That thought alone was cause 
for rejoicing. The verse became my mantra for many years. This is 
the day. Be glad. Rejoice.  
   My life didn't change overnight. Dad was still gone, my 
future still uncertain. But I clung to that verse and prayed it many 
times each day. Life has been good, but not perfect. I've returned 
time and again to Those Few Simple Words. They Always Bring My Focus 
Back To Where It Should Be: On Him. This Day. Rejoice!  
   Roxanne Henke is the author of The Secret of Us, After Anne, 
and several other books. She and her husband, Lorren, have two adult 
daughters, a son-in-law, and an annoyingly friendly dog named Gunner. [The 
One Year Bible Life Verse Devotional] 

   Every day I look out to see a beautiful sunrise, a gorgeous 
sunset, and all the stars in the sky. I see sparkling lakes and rivers, 
sweeping fields and ageless trees, painted clouds and an endless horizon, 
and I am in awe of how big God is and how small I am.  
   Then I see the family and friends he has put in my life, and 
it makes me realize that I am a special, unique, undeserving piece 
of that creation. What's more, he chose me. He knows me. I am loved 
by the Creator of the universe. It's just that simple.  
   Then, I realize that The Best Is Still To Come, when I join 
Christ in heaven. How can I not rejoice in every day he has given me?  
   Duane Truman lives in Davenport, Iowa. [The One Year Bible 
Life Verse Devotional] 

   Come to Me with a thankful heart, so that you can enjoy My 
Presence. This is the day that I have made. I want you to rejoice today, 
refusing to worry about tomorrow. Search for all that I have prepared for 
you, anticipating abundant blessings and accepting difficulties as 
they come. I can weave miracles into the most mundane day if you keep 
your focus on Me. 
   Come to Me with all your needs, knowing that My glorious 
riches are a more-than-adequate supply. Stay in continual communication 
with Me, so that you can live above your circumstances even while you 
are in the midst of them. Present your requests to Me with 
thanksgiving, and My Peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your 
heart and mind. (Psa. 118:24; Phi. 4:19, 6-7) [Jesus Calling by Sarah 
Young] 

   Open your hands and your heart to receive this day as a 
precious gift from Me. I begin each day with a sunrise, announcing My 
radiant Presence. By the time you rise from your bed, I have already 
prepared the way before you. I eagerly await your first conscious 
thought. I rejoice when you glance My way.  
   Bring Me the gift of thanksgiving, which opens your heart to 
rich communion with Me. Because I am God, from whom all blessings 
flow, thankfulness is the best way to draw near Me. Sing praise songs 
to Me; tell of My wondrous works. Remember that I take great 
delight in you; I rejoice over you with singing. (Psa. 118:24; 95:2; 
Zep. 3:17) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] 

   This is the day that I have made! As you rejoice in this day 
of life, it will yield up to you precious gifts and beneficial 
training. Walk with Me along the high road of thanksgiving, and you will 
find all the delights I have made ready for you.  
   To protect your thankfulness, you must remember that you 
reside in a fallen world, where blessings and sorrows intermingle 
freely. A constant focus on adversity defeats many Christians. They walk 
through a day that is brimming with beauty and brightness, seeing only 
the grayness of their thoughts. Neglecting the practice of giving 
thanks has darkened their minds. How precious are My children who 
remember to thank Me at all times. They can walk through the darkest days 
with Joy in their hearts because they know that the Light of My 
Presence is still shining on them. Rejoice in this day that I have made, 
for I am your steadfast Companion. (Psa. 118:24; 116:17) [Jesus 
Calling by Sarah Young] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE:

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2004/20041029-1002.html

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT:

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video] 

Seeking God Video Clip: http://vimeo.com/31489782

Prophecies Decoded Sermon Series: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657