We only get one day to rejoice in the Lord — that day is TODAY. Here’s a “kid’s” song (for kids of all ages, of course) that is small enough to fit in tiny nooks and crannies of any day of rejoicing. Give it a sing-along listen and come back for a little more on rejoicing as we give thanks to the Lord for His goodness and mercy.
Traveling fast and far
Years ago a Bible teacher told our young adult class “If you want to travel fast and far, you need to travel light.” One of the students there had for some time acted so cheerfully unbothered by any need to tend to a number of basic life responsibilities that a fellow student leaned toward him and said “I think you might be traveling a little TOO light.”
We might be traveling too light if we make no effort to know what’s going on around us in the world. We are not ostriches. We cannot just ignore troubles in this world by sticking our heads in the sand.
But even so, we CAN and SHOULD tend to one basic life responsibility as children of the Most High — that is to keep our focus on Him and on what He has promised and on what He is doing. It is so easy to binge on bad reports which can be heard and seen at almost all places and times of the day — but when we do we all too easily get swept up into the unrest and anxiety already burdening so many.
The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord
It is easy to say, “Douse the fires of unrest and anxiety by looking at the Lord.” Sometimes we need a refresher on exactly HOW to look at the Lord.
One way is simply to read what God has said. While on a schedule to read the entire Bible in one year I admit I was getting discouraged in Samuel and Kings because there was SO MUCH rebellion against God and evil behavior in Israel and Judah resulting in needless death and destruction. The reading schedule kept me in those books many days. But the reading plan ALSO included reading a Psalm every day. Time after time I experienced how powerful and uplifting a Psalm could be, especially in contrast to Biblical records I had just read describing men’s failures. How much more can the Psalms lift us up from the bad reports competing for our attention day in and day out. Take a minute and soak in words like these:
Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful.
Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.
Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
For the word of the Lord is right, And all His work is done in truth.
He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. [Psalm 33:1-5]
What would our lives be like without the Psalms and similar writings to help us bring our thinking around to the healing wholeness that comes from looking at the Lord, and letting Him speak to us?
Come to the oasis
Another way of looking to the Lord is to engage with others working — and speaking — on the Lord’s behalf. Ephesians says Christ gave gifts unto men, gift ministries — apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
What for? “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
How long will they be with us? “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” (We have not arrived there yet, so we must — and we do — still have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers today.)
What is their objective? “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”
These ministries will not contradict the written Word of God, but can add light to help us navigate through specific situations we face in our day and time. Let me share with you part of a message a modern day prophet, Nate Johnston, recently wrote, exhorting believers to maintain courage and confidence in the Lord. Take a minute and soak in these words:
“So it’s time to get your vision back. But you have said, ‘How can I get vision in an unknown season?’ By getting your eyes off the problem and back onto the horizon. It’s time to dream with Me and let go of the worries you have been carrying. This is a time where you will have to fix your eyes on Me and nothing else. This is where you will have to look out across the seas and attach your faith to that cloud the size of a man’s hand. This is a time where you will have to prophesy rain when you aren’t seeing even a drop. This is a time where you will have to roar into the vacuum until it shifts. Pioneers, this is when you need to DRINK the most. This is a moment when choosing to lay down in My presence is going to be more fruitful than swinging your sword, and choosing to receive My fire over the temptation to put out fires around you. Come to the oasis. The depth of revelation you will receive will be proportionate to how much you have filled yourself up with Me. This is where My voice needs to be the loudest thing you hear and the rhythm of My heart the only thing that gives you purpose every day. Now, pioneers, watch Me clear the road for you, refresh you, steady your ground, and ready you for the wide-open spaces ahead!”
Is this the day the Lord has made?
Indeed!
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
God is not absent and God is not finished.
“Oh give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good; because his mercy endures for ever.” [Psalm 118:1]
DRINK at the Lord’s oasis.
It is time to receive His refreshing.
God bless you lots.
–Dale R.
LYRICS: This Is The Day
Psalm 118:24
This is the day which the Lord hath made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the day which the Lord hath made,
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
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–Dale R.
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Thanks!
—Dale R.