This is the day the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it!

The Lord created this day and had all of us in mind when He did. While we do not know what our day will hold, one thing we can be certain of, like David, is that we can find God's goodness and mercy with us at every turn and in every day.

David proclaimed in Psalm 23:6, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life...” Even in the midst of malicious accusations, David proclaimed, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13)

So let us be strong, take heart and wait for the Lord today... expecting His goodness and care to shine through. Let us be grateful and rejoice at the goodness of God all around us.

Rather than live for what we can gain in the world around us, let us, like David, see the world with an eternal eye of faith and be as servants who continue wholeheartedly in God's way.

Like the servant of Elisha, instead of being afraid, let us have open eyes to see that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And that we have a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on as we run this race (Romans 12:1).

Rather than look at the day with indecision about who God is and waiver in unbelief like the people when they came to Mount Carmel, let us choose to believe and trust. Let us proclaim with all our hearts, “The Lord – he is God!”

Even when the world around us seems to be going in a different direction, let us, with Joshua proclaim, “But as for me and my household, we shall serve the Lord.”

Let our needs cause us to reach out to God and others for help, like the poor widow whose jar of oil didn't run out. Let us ask for what we need and reach out hoping and anticipating to receive God's goodness. Who knows if we might receive the miracle from God we need today.

Like Elisha with Elijah right before he was to be taken up, let us hold to and cherish the relationships in our lives. Let us value every minute we have with each other, not taking it for granted, but listening, caring, being with and learning from each other. Rather than having our own agenda for the day, perhaps going with them where they are going – just to be with them.

And like Elijah with Elisha, let us be brave to ask what we can do for others, trusting that even if it is a difficult thing, God could provide.

Let us, like the Israelites building the temple, give freely and wholeheartedly to God's work before us.

Let us not, like Jeroboam's wife, pretend to be someone else. Let us be real with ourselves and others about who we are. And let us not only be looking out for ourselves. But let us look up and see God's bigger picture and ask God today how we can enter into it.

Like the man of God who came to Judah and prophesied against the altar, and interceded for the kings hand to be restored when it shriveled up, let us enter into God's heart for the world around us. Let us pray to God about the injustice we see and quickly be willing to pray for others – even when they seek our harm.

Let us not, like Rehoboam, be wise in our own eyes and put burdens on others. But instead, with humility look for how we can lighten their already burdened load. And when we make poor choices, let us not make excuses or blame, but recognize God's hand and learn from our mistakes.

Lord, help us to fully live life to the fullest in this day You have given us as a gift. Most of all, let us know Your mercy and goodness as You are with us on every step of this journey.