Today has been one of those days, and it has already just started! I snoozed my alarm and woke up an hour late, all I could see in the house was what has not yet been unpacked, I had to rush through breakfast, and it seemed like my wife and I would not stop bickering (mostly my fault, seriously). I've had better beginnings to days, and I've had much worse; but today still started off wrong. What do you do when your day begins wrong? Jesus says "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. " (Luke 9:23) We have to deny ourselves daily. We have to repent daily. More importantly, we have to die to ourselves daily. If my day begins wrong, I need to be reminded that it's not about me anyway. I need to repent of my actions to my wife (none of this was her fault); I need to repent of my actions toward sleep (Figure something else out), and I, especially, need to repent of my attitude and actions toward God. When I make it about me, of course everything will go wrong. But when I realize I have an enemy who wants to steal, kill and destroy, I can shout out "Get behind me Satan" and not let the devil overtake me. This is the day the Lord has made, so I shall rejoice and be glad in it, no matter the circumstance! I just need to stop, breath, and slow down. I need to remember who the Lord is, and I need to focus on His power and might, not on what is going wrong around me. Jesus still reins, even on my worst days. THAT is something worth holding on to.
Psalm 118 English Standard Version (ESV)
His Steadfast Love Endures Forever
118 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.”
5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.
10 All nations surrounded me; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 11 They surrounded me, surrounded me on every side; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 12 They surrounded me like bees; they went out like a fire among thorns; in the name of the Lord I cut them off! 13 I was pushed hard,[a] so that I was falling, but the Lord helped me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. 15 Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the Lord does valiantly, 16 the right hand of the Lord exalts, the right hand of the Lord does valiantly!”
17 I shall not die, but I shall live, and recount the deeds of the Lord. 18 The Lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter through them and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous shall enter through it. 21 I thank you that you have answered me and have become my salvation. 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.[b] 23 This is the Lord's doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!
28 You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. 29 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Footnotes:
a. Psalm 118:13 Hebrew You (that is, the enemy) pushed me hard
b Psalm 118:22 Hebrew the head of the corner
