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Do you ever let what might happen tomorrow steal your joy today? Unfortunately, I have a lot of practice on this one. I have allowed some concern about some upcoming event, meeting or conversation in the future cloud my vision of today. Certainly we must plan, prepare and get ready for that which is coming. It’s foolish to ignore a final exam date next week by not studying for it in the days before. However some of us might let future possibilities completely overwhelm our outlook today.

This struck me this morning when I read Psalm 118:24. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Or to put it another way “Let us rejoice today and be glad.” Yes the exam is coming. Yes the doctor will review our lab test results next week. Yes, that big meeting is just days away. Yes, we have to deal with that difficult situation with our child. Yes, that bill is due at the end of the month.

But let us rejoice today and be glad. Once we’ve done what we can do today for whatever is coming, we have a choice. Will we use the rest of our day to rejoice in God and His gifts? Or will we deliberately, consciously, intentionally rejoice?

This is not some eyes closed, head in the sand, “let’s escape reality” approach.
“Consider the ravens; they neither so nor reap, they have neither storehouse or barn and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than birds!” - Jesus – Luke 12:24
“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith?” - Jesus – Luke 12:27-28

“And which of you be being anxious can add a single hour to the span of his life?” – Jesus – Luke 12:25

“Instead seek his kingdom and these things will be added to you.” - Jesus – Luke 12:31
So let us rejoice today and be glad in the Lord and His presence with us.