This is the Day the Lord has made

by Missy Grant

“This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24

“This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today.” Contemporary English Version

“This is the day the Lord has brought about; we will rejoice and be glad in it” Amplified Bible

“This is the very day God acted! Lets celebrate and be Festive” The Message

This past year some of the ladies in our community studied the book of Daniel together. Every Thursday morning as we gathered, I would open our time together by saying,” This is the day the Lord hath made….(and they would complete the verse by replying) we will rejoice and be glad in it.” This was a reminder to us that although the journey is difficult, the Lord himself gave us the day. Our command is to rejoice….and then be glad in it. Why? Because he made it, he brought it about, it belongs to Him, He is alive and active. (notice the reasoning doesn’t have anything to do with us!)

Have you ever wondered if the word rejoice is a way of re-gifting joy? The “re” part must mean something. Do you know the definition of re-gift? It is to give as a gift something one previously received as a gift. Profound….yes

What have you been given that you can re-gift to someone today? No, I don’t mean the chair in the living room or the old coffee maker in the cupboard. Lets try this verse on for size today, “…that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word.” Is. 50:4. Or this one, “Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” 1 Thess. 5:11. How about this one, “And Jonathan, Saul’s son, arose and went to David at Horesh, and encouraged him in God.” 1 Samuel 23:16.

That is some mighty powerful re-gifting. His word. His encouragement. Discouragement is satan’s weapon of choice, ladies. You can not journey alone. The Lord is your strength, yet He will provide others to encourage you and for you to encourage. Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 says, “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. “ I believe God’s word calls us to two kinds of Titus 2 relationships. One where you are being mentored (encouraged, prayed over, loved deeply) and one where you are mentoring (encouraging, praying over someone, loving deeply).

Where and what are you re-gifting today?

Lord, This is the Day you have made. Let us choose to rejoice and be glad in it. The aches of our hearts can paralyze us. Let us take comfort in the gifting of your word, the gifting of relationships, the gift of salvation. I pray we are bold in your name. Lord, help us to see the Jonathan's in our lives. Those who encourage in You. Bless the many who are encouraging those around them. May Your name be Glorified today. Amen.