“This is the day that the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
“Voici le jour, que l’Éternel a fait, Qu’il soit pour nous un sujet de joie.”
These are the words of Psalm 118:24 but I think this phrase is much more popular as a children’s song. This song holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of Haiti. I will never forget the sound of tiny voices singing that recognizable melody in French. I know absolutely no French and my Haitian Creole vocabulary consists of about 7 words but this song offered something familiar when I was in a place that was completely foreign.
Now, I’ve come to embrace this as my motto. Every day, in the good times and the bad, I remember that this is the day that the Lord has made.
It is a day that He has ordained for greater purposes than my own.
It is a day that has the potential to be incredible because it has been created by the Lord.
It is a day in which I will rejoice in the Lord because He has given me another day.
So what does that mean for my life on the race?
On the day when I have to spend 18 hours on a bus: this is the day that the Lord has made.
On the day I am struggling with missing friends and family: I will rejoice and be glad in it.
On the day my heart breaks for the homeless and addicted: this is the day that the Lord has made.
On the day I just don’t think I can do it anymore: I will rejoice and be glad in it.
This mentality isn’t something that will end when the race is over either. In my life at home, it will look a bit different but it will still be the lens through which I choose to view each day.
On the day I have a hard test: this is the day that the Lord has made.
On the day I am stressed and at my breaking point: I will rejoice and be glad in it.
On the day all of my plans for the future collapse: this is the day that the Lord has made.
On the day I can’t seem to do anything right: I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Every single day I will remember that Jesus died for me and each day I get to spend on this earth is a gift from God. This is the day that the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Each day I have the opportunity to love someone, to show them a glimpse of the love the Lord has for them. It doesn’t matter if I am on the World Race doing organized ministry or at home at HEB (Texas grocery store), I need only remember that today is the day that the Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it.
