It's a Great Day to Have a Great Day 💛

I am constantly asking myself, "How would my heart change if I began each morning thanking God and reflecting on all His goodness before I got on my phone or started worrying about all I had to get done that day?"

Psalm 118:24 reminds me, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."

Every day is another opportunity God has given me to go out and spread the gospel. He is the reason I wake up in the morning. He is the reason for everything I have in my life. If it weren't for Him, my days would not be what they are. Every day is a great day when my day is centered around Him.

"It's a great day to have a great day" is a phrase I hear often. It's encouraging and easy to say when everything is going my way. But it is a little harder to say when I am overwhelmed or stressed. In the mornings, when my thoughts are consumed by everything I need to get done, my plans for the day, worry consumes my heart and my days are already off to a bad start. But on the days I start my mornings in the Word or by praying to God, there is peace and joy in my heart.

Psalm 118:24 gives us a reason to rejoice that goes far beyond having a good day.

The verse does not say, "This is the day where I won't be stressed, and everything will go to plan." It does not promise a stress-free schedule, answered prayers, or perfect circumstances.

Instead, the verse points my heart back to the sole reason I woke up, God.

"This is the day that the Lord has made."

Before I even open my eyes, God is already working. God knows what my day will hold before I even wake up. Every day I live is one He intentionally created. They are never accidental. This truth has changed the way I approach each day, especially as soon as I wake up.

My days are not great because of my circumstances; they are great because God walks with me and is constantly in my thoughts.

My days used to be determined based on my circumstances. My mood was constantly rising and falling. It was unstable. A change of plans could make me grumpy; stress would drain my energy, and if things were going my way, I would be happy until something came along to steal the happiness. But when my days are rooted in God from the beginning, I am steady, not because of anything I did, but because He is steady.

David wrote Psalm 118 to celebrate God's thankfulness and deliverance. It is a reminder that God is worthy of all of my praise because of who He is and what He has done.

Through Jesus' sacrifice, I have been forgiven. I have been redeemed. Because of Him, every day has a purpose. That purpose is to go out and spread the gospel. To bring others to know Jesus. Every day is an opportunity to walk with Him.

That doesn't mean every day is easy.

There will be days full of sadness, stress, uncertainty and trials. But even in those moments, I choose gratitude because my days and circumstances don't determine my joy, He does.

A great day is any day we get to walk with Jesus.

So today, whatever you have on your schedule, whatever is weighing on your heart, remember that God made this day. He is present and walking with you. He is working all things together for good. He is worthy of all your praise, even in the trials.

That is what makes today a great day to have a great day.

Quiet Time Questions 💬

• What worries or fears are stealing my joy right now? Have I surrendered them to God?
• What is one specific reason I can rejoice in the Lord today?
• If someone observed my attitude this week, would they see evidence of the joy of Christ in me?
• Are there blessings in my life that I have overlooked because I've been focused on what I don't have?
• When I wake up in the morning, what is the first thing that shapes my attitude for the day, my circumstances or God's truth?