Tim Hetzner, President of Lutheran Church Charities, who normally writes the daily devotions is out of the country right now leading a Biblical Study tour in the Middle East. While he is out he has asked Pete Imlah on the LCC staff to cover for him. Pete is Director of Mission and Outreach at LCC.

Played: 75 | Download | Duration: 00:03:07

This Is The Day...

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

The familiar words of Psalm 118 remind us that today, like every day, is a priceless gift from God. What do you expect from the day ahead of you? Are you expecting God to do wonderful things, or are you living beneath a cloud of apprehension and doubt? Do you expect God to use you in unexpected ways, or do you expect another uneventful day to pass with little fanfare? As a thoughtful believer, the answer to these questions should be obvious.

C. H. Spurgeon, the renowned 19th-century English clergyman, advised, “Rejoice is clearly a spiritual command. To ignore it, I need to remind you, is disobedience.” As a developing disciple of Jesus Christ, we are called by our Heavenly Father to live courageously, prayerfully and joyfully. To do otherwise is to squander His spiritual gifts.

Today, like every other day, provides countless opportunities to serve God and to worship Him. But, if we turn our backs on Him, or if we simply become too busy to acknowledge His greatness, we do a profound disservice to ourselves, to our families, and to our world.

So whatever this day holds for you, begin it and end it with God as your partner, Christ as your Savior, and the Holy Spirit as your guide. And throughout the day, give thanks to the One who has called you by name. God’s love for you is infinite – accept it joyfully and be thankful.

Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, This is the day that You have given me. Help me to be thankful, and to use it according to Your plan and not mine. I thank and praise You for the gift of life and for the spiritual gifts You have blessed me with. Enable me to live each moment to the fullest, totally involved in Your will. I pray this in Jesus’ Name. Amen