“This is the day the Lord has made;
We will rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps 118:24)
There are so many reasons to be sad in this world. Just listen to the news and you will weep… The whole world is in pain. In the past, we associate suffering and pain with poverty. But now, even the wealthy are not exempted. So why will I rejoice? Why will I chose rejoicing over sadness? Is that not crazy? I tell you why…
I rejoice because I am a child of God; a citizen of the Kingdom of God made of ‘righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost’! I rejoice because my name is written in the Lamb’s book of life! I rejoice because God’s mercy to me endures forever! I rejoice because even when I was in distress, alone and in pain, God answered my prayers! I rejoice because when my enemies surrounded me like the bees, God shielded me and neutralized their stinging poison! I rejoice because when my enemies rejected me and my words, God received me, loved me and listen to my prayers! I rejoice because God has prepared a feast for me in the midst of my enemies! I rejoice because my cup overflows and my head is anointed with the oil of joy above my fellows! In spite of the plans of the haters, stingers, pushers, slanderers and all, God is with me and His mercy towards me and my family endures forever! I rejoice with my Lord Jesus Christ ‘who for the joy ahead endured the cross scoring its shame’! I rejoice because Jesus overcame the world and shared His triumphant joy with me!
I rejoice because today is the day God has made for me! God is eternal and does not need ‘days’ to count for Himself. But He is the ‘Ancient of days’! He has prepared, provided and appointed this particular day for me, to remember Him in the morning, to praise Him in the afternoon and to worship Him in the evening! I shall live every moment in His presence where there is fullness of joy! I have no reason to grumble or to be sad. My joy makes me to spin around and dance! I was glad when they said unto me: let us go to the house of the Lord! I arise and shine for my light has come! The glory of the Lord is risen upon me! The Joy of the Lord is my strength! God is in control of my life! Yes, today is good to remember all these blessings! My future is better than my past and my present! Therefore, I must rejoice!
My dear children, I want you to know that your mother is happy, blessed and highly favored! This is my testimony! My boast is in the Lord! Listen! The voice of rejoicing and salvation is heard in the tents of the righteous, even in my house! The right hand of the Lord is exalted! The victory is sure! As for me and my family, we shall worship and serve the Lord forever! This is the Lord’s doing and it is marvelous in our eyes! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His mercies endure forever!
(In the picture, my husband and I, rejoicing… ‘Nothing do us!’ – Nigerian slang meaning that we have no problem and all is well with we)
Green Pastures 