Katara Washington Patton

Psalm 118: 19-29

Give Thanks to the Lord! 

I once heard a pastor say that you are not living an abundant life if you do not wake up each morning and proclaim: “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (see Psalm 118:24) This pastor seemed to claim that we could live a fulfilled life if, and only if, we acknowledged that God is the creator of each day and therefore should be praised for creating each day. When I first thought about the pastor’s claim, I found it strange that this pastor could make such a blanket statement about how I should respond to a new day. He didn’t know me or my circumstances, yet he implied that I should wake up ready to praise God for each day! What if today is the day I bury my loved one? Is it still a day to rejoice? What if today is a day that I’m so depressed that I can barely get out of the bed? How can I rejoice and be glad in this day?  

As I continued to think about the pastor’s bold statement, I read the entire Psalm 118 from which the praise verse is taken. I realized that in this passage, the psalmist is thanking God for deliverance; the writer is recognizing that God has been a true deliverer for the people of Israel. And as we look at this verse through our 21st century lenses, we can proclaim with the original writer that God has indeed been our deliverer—from slavery (both physical and emotional), from injustice, from low-self esteem, from bad decisions, from ourselves. Our Lord has answered many of our prayers (v. 21). So looking back and recognizing God’s almighty hand in our deliverance should remind us to give thanks to God. That’s enough to rejoice . . . regardless of what we may face today; we know Who delivered us yesterday and we can trust that He will continue to deliver us today. Therefore, we can join with the psalmist and that pastor to proclaim: This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it—with loved ones, without loved ones; with a job, without a job; when we feel good and positive, and even when we feel scared, weak and depressed. This is still the day the Lord has made and has left each of us here on earth for a reason; so rejoice and look for God’s deliverance this day.  

Prayer 

Lord, no matter what I face this day, I know you have created this day and you have allowed me to see this day for a reason. Help me to rejoice in the fact that you are my savior; you are my righteousness, you are my deliverer.

Thought for the day 

Today I will rejoice! For I know you will provide my daily bread as you have provided in the past.