“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
                (Psalm 118:24) NIV

I have a friend who has experienced significant losses. She and her husband went bankrupt. Then one of her daughters was killed by a drunk driver. A hurricane destroyed their home, and later cancer claimed her husband and son-in-law within a year. She acknowledges these events and the pain they’ve caused her, but she refuses to cling to that pain, because she realizes that doing so would only steep her in discouragement, and that’s no way to live. She is one of the most upbeat people I know. Her love for Jesus radiates from her face and her words reflect the depth of her relationship with Him. She truly knows what it means to practice living in His presence.

She told me one time that her mother had always been an upbeat person too. She had learned it from her. She said, “Every morning when she woke up, instead of saying, like most of us, ‘Good Lord, morning!’ She would say, ‘Good morning Lord! What wonderful things do you have planned for me today?’ That invited His presence and set the tone for her entire day. No matter what happened, she knew that He was sovereign.
Over the years, I’ve sought to practice that same ritual. I have found that it sets my mind and heart in a place of eager anticipation. No matter what the day holds, Jesus holds me. I will rejoice and be glad in His presence, His power, and His promises.
What’s the first thought that enters your mind when you wake up? If it’s anxiety about the day, then retrain your thoughts to focus on Jesus through the simple prayer in today’s Scripture verse.

Faith Step – Memorize Psalm 118:24. Thank Jesus for the gift of today.