Barbara's Banter

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God is always with me. Jesus actually came to earth to be with me and you, all of us. His name is Emmanuel which means God with us (Matthew 1:23). God came to us. We didn’t have to find Him. He found us! Plus, God is with us all the time.

That means we never have to feel alone. He is with us during times of celebration. He’s also with us when we feel like we can’t go on or when our hearts are breaking. He cries with us. He feels our pain, and is there to help us cope, keep perspective, and survive (Psalm 23:4). 

As an added bonus He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrew 13:5). He provides safety and security. He fights our battles. He gives us wisdom when we ask. He is our strength when we are weak.

It’s a broken world but we can face it with courage and hope because God is with us. If that doesn’t give us a reason to rejoice every day, then what would?

“…they shall call His name Emmanuel,
which is translated, “God with us.”” ~Matthew 1:23

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God knows everything. This is marvelous news when you think about it. I don’t have to waste my time trying to figure out why things happen. Sure, there are times when we can see a clear picture of why things turned out the way they did, but many times we can’t. We have a very limited view of what happens; whereas God’s view is limitless.

We don’t know all the psychological aspects of why some people are OCD and others are ADHD, or why some people are easy to get along with and others are difficult. We don’t need to understand why life is not fair, or why some people seem to have more trials that others. It might be helpful to know the answers, but it’s not necessary. Everything we need to know, God will reveal to us in His time.

Here’s the gospel truth: God knows. God understands. God meets us where we are. Our job is to meet others where they are and point them to God. As long as we are moving towards God and not away from Him, we don’t need to understand everything because God does! 

“Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His
understanding has no limit.” ~Psalm 147:5 (NIV)

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because salvation is a gift from God that I do not have to earn.

Many think they can earn salvation by being good. Truthfully, no one could ever be good enough. Our salvation doesn’t depend on our goodness, but on God’s goodness. God’s goodness and His love make salvation possible.   

Salvation is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8). Accepting this wonderful gift saves us from the penalty of all our sins: past, present, and future (2 Timothy 1:9-10). Nothing we do will make God love us more, or even less. God loves all of us unconditionally.

Our good works could never produce salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, our salvation should produce good works (Ephesians 2:10). Realizing how much God loves us should inspire us to serve and obey Him as an act of worship, not to gain His favor.

I rejoice because my salvation does not depend on my goodness, but on God’s greatness!

“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.” ~Psalm 145:3 (NIV)

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because it’s not my job to fix people or their situations. That’s God’s job, not mine. My job is to love them. I will admit that loving people is not always an easy task, but it is a lot easier than trying to solve all their problems, change their point of view, or live their lives for them.  

All of us are broken in one way or another, but humans cannot fix this brokenness. Only God can do that! Even then, God doesn’t really fix people. However, He will transform those who yield to Him. Transformational change takes time, patience, and love.

My job is to reflect God’s love by listening with a caring heart, showing compassion, pointing people to God, praying with them if they are receptive, and definitely praying for them whether they want me to or not. This doesn’t mean I condone or accept everything they might do, but it’s not my job to fix them. I’ll leave that in God’s hands. Afterall, I can’t even fix myself, so what makes me think I can fix others?

“…The things which are impossible with men
are possible with God.” ~Luke 18:27

This is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). He is also the light that shines in my darkness (John 1:5). I have nothing to fear because the Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1). So no matter how dark my days may seem, Jesus is always with me. His light will shine forth to lead the way.

My darkness is not dark to God. He knows what is in the darkness even when I don’t (Daniel 2:22). At times, I may feel confused, but God is never confused. An unexpected event may surprise me, but God is never surprised. I may feel as if my life is out of control, but God is never out of control. If I surrender to God and relinquish my control to Him, I can find peace even when I feel surrounded by darkness.

“He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness…” ~Daniel 22:2

This is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God remains faithful even when I don’t (2 Timothy 2:13). God’s faithfulness to me does not depend on my obedience to Him.

Does this give me a license to sin? I think not! However, it does require me to daily call on God’s wisdom, power, and strength, rather than depending on my very limited knowledge, instincts, or even natural abilities. As I surrender to God, I must trust Him to do what is best for me.  

Although I strive to obey God, I tend to fall short of my goals. It’s hard to keep perspective. For example, these might be my goals instead of God’s. At these times, I try to think of how far I’ve come, not how far I need to go. My life is frail and unpredictable. Therefore, I am so very thankful that I am not the master of my fate. I can leave that in God’s loving hands.  

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.” ~2 Timothy 2:13

Today is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because life is a banquet. In the book which was made into a stage play/movie/musical titled Auntie Mame, author Patrick Dennis wrote about how his flamboyant aunt knew how to enjoy life. She said, “Life is a banquet, and most poor suckers are starving to death.” I wonder if we forget that the Christian life is a banquet meant to be enjoyed, not endured.  

Jesus came so we could have an abundant life which could be a metaphor for a banquet (John 10:10). In biblical times, another word for banquet might be a celebration or a feast. God apparently loved feasts so much He named Old Testament Holy Days using that very word (Leviticus 23). These special days were meant to be times of celebration. People were encouraged to enjoy good food and yea, verily, even wine. Perhaps that’s why in the New Testament, the first miracle performed in Christ’s ministry was turning water into wine at a wedding party, not so people could get drunk, but so they could continue a celebration.    

I’m sure there will be a few morsels of delight that God has in store for me today. With His help, I can savor what He lays before me.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” ~Psalm 34:8

This is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because the life I lead is all about God, not about me. It’s about His glory, not mine. All creation was made by God and for God. Everything will be done according to His plan and His purpose. Therefore, even my mundane, everyday tasks can be done in some way that will bring God glory. Perhaps it can be thanking God for food each time I eat, or being patient with people who are irritating.   

My life is not about my hangups, my fears, or my problems. It’s about reflecting God’s love in everything I do. There is no need to fret or worry. There is no need to think I’m not doing enough. There is no need to think it’s all up to me whether something succeeds or fails. Of course, I must do my part but ultimately the weight of the world and even the weight of my problems are on God’s shoulders, not mine. I find that comforting.

“Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do,
do all to the glory of God.” ~1 Corinthians 10:31

This is the day the Lord has made…

I will rejoice today because God has His everlasting arms wrapped around me (Deuteronomy 33:27). God’s arms are strong and powerful enough to carry me through any hardship I face. God’s arms are gentle and kind enough to comfort me when I mourn. God’s arms are ready to catch me if I fall. They are ready to lift me up to heaven. They hold me close. They provide refuge. They deliver from evil. They keep me safe and secure. They bring peace in a chaotic world.  

God’s everlasting arms are able to keep all of us from falling, and present us faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy (Jude verses 24-25). Plus, more than this, God’s arms offer us everlasting love (Jeremiah 31:3). No wonder Leaning on the Everlasting Arms is a beloved hymn for all generations. 

“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are
the everlasting arms.” ~Deuteronomy 33:27 (NKJV)

This is the day the Lord has made…

A New Year has begun and Paul tells us it is time to forget what is behind (Philippians 3:13-14). The old things have passed away and God wants to do something new (1 Corinthians 5:17). In order for this to happen, we cannot afford to dwell in the past. We must embrace each new day!

Each new day is the day the Lord has made and we are admonished to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). I think this would make a great blog theme for 2026! So let it be said; so let it be written!

Today is the day the Lord has made! I will rejoice and be glad today because this day is a gift from God. Yea, verily, each new day is a fresh start! Each new day is an opportunity to learn more about Jesus. Each new day is a chance to make a difference in the world through a smile or word of encouragement. As we yield to God, each new day is full of endless possibilities.

So let’s rejoice and be glad! Today is the day that the Lord has made!

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice
and be glad in it.” ~Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)