Psalm 92:4 Devotional on Receiving Today with Joy

Receiving This Day with Joy
Your Nightly Prayer
By: Greg Grandchamp

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.” - Psalm 92:4

SOMETHING TO PONDER

How often have we thought about all the deeds God has done in our lives, sort of said a quick thank you, and moved on? After all, our lives are so busy that we often don’t have time to really sit and meditate on everything God has done. Maybe it’s time to stop racing around like crazies and focus on Him for a while. Maybe it’s time we realize that every day – every single day – is a gift from God. That is a clear message throughout scripture. In his letter to the Philippians, Paul tells us to “Do everything without grumbling or arguing…” (v. 2:14), but shortly after that, he took it a step further and said we are to “Rejoice in the Lord always!” and then repeats it for good measure, “I say it again; Rejoice!” (v. 4:4) King David’s words light up many homes; “This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24 ESV)

A great lesson to be learned about rejoicing, even in hardship, comes from the prophet Jeremiah. Even in his laments about the destruction of Jerusalem, Jeremiah finds joy in the Lord. Jeremiah tells us his hope and peace are gone, and his soul is downcast within him (Lamentations 3:20), and yet, he follows that with how great the Lord is – “…for His compassions never fail, they are new every morning.” And there it is. The Lord will never fail us. His compassions are new every day. Every. Single. Morning. We can celebrate with joy the day the Lord has given us! And yet, sometimes that is easier said than done, isn’t it? In the rush of summer – between work, kids’ events everywhere (and if they aren’t at an event, they’re at home), household chores, getting the cars fixed…you name it. Even vacations can make us rush around, leaving us feeling the vacation was too short and needing a vacation from our vacation.

We can stop every morning ...take a deep breath – in deep and out slowly – and give ourselves to the Lord. Aligning ourselves – our day – with His will.

Let’s start our day with gratitude – acknowledging the Lord as the source of every blessing. Even when it’s a struggle to find them, we know they are there. Health. Families. Opportunities. Peace. (Colossians 3:17)
Focus on today – not tomorrow, down the road, or in the past. Let’s let today shape our outlook, thoughts, and attitudes. No need to dwell on the past or fear tomorrow. (Matthew 6:34)
Commit to living for Him today. Find a way – even if it’s ever so small – to do something nice for another. (Matthew 25:35)
Trust in God for today’s daily bread. In other words, for His provision. (Luke 11:3, Matthew 6:11)
Worship, pray, and read His word. (Matthew 6:6)

All of this simply means that we can and should approach each day with a special moment with our Lord. We can begin our busy times with gratitude - recognizing that the day is a blessing. We can look around us and see His handiwork everywhere. In our children, our families, our relationships, our friends, our homes, our church communities, even our jobs and our pets. If we live today for His purposes, as He would lead us – finding a way to serve Him, even if it’s in our attitude – then our day can be filled with joy.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Oh, glorious Father in heaven,
It is so easy for me to get wrapped up in the busyness of the season to forget to stop and see your hand in it all. Help me to truly focus on what is important, on what comes first – and that is you. You are absolutely at the top of my list, Father. Please help me to keep that in my mind and my heart and my attitude all day, every day – even, maybe especially, during those busiest moments.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

Begin every day with prayer and thanksgiving. Read special passages of joy from the Bible. But unless you make it a habit, then days will go by, and you lose something.
Keep your eyes open today for something you can do, someone you can help – even a little. Maybe pray for someone who seems to need it, even if they don’t know it.
Trust in God’s provisions today. Set aside worry about what might lie ahead – tell yourself you can worry tomorrow, but not today. Today, you’re trusting God.

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

Grandchamp is an author and speaker. His book, “In Pursuit of Truth, A Journey Begins,” is an easy-to-read narrative that offers answers to the most common questions new believers and non-believers have about Jesus Christ (Amazon.) Greg speaks on living out our faith in our daily lives – and on creating true disciples of Christ.
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.

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