This Is The Day The Lord Has Made; Let Us Rejoice And Be glad In It.

This Bible verse is a great reminder that the Lord has made each day; therefore, we should rejoice and be glad for each one that He gives us. However, there is one specific day that I think should make us rejoice and be glad above the rest.

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.   

There are many special days that the Lord has given me to rejoice and be glad. These are significant days in my life. Some include, the day of my birth, my wedding day, the days my children were born and the day of my salvation.

January 1, 1989, is the day that I prayed to accept Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. This was the day the Lord made for me to rejoice and be glad because He planned that I should hear, understand and respond to the Gospel message.

I think God wants us to rejoice and be glad each day. We can rejoice and be glad that we are alive and for the blessings that we have.

Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (NASB)

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV)

But is it possible and reasonable to ask us to rejoice and be glad always? The answer must be yes, because the Bible says that it is God’s will for us.

Choosing to rejoice and be glad are decisions that we can make. But, if you are like me there are times when you don’t want to rejoice and be glad due to feelings or circumstances.

Certainly, there will be occasions when it is appropriate to grieve and express sorrow especially when we are suffering. But, even then it’s possible and helpful for us to look for the blessings in trials.

In fact, the Apostle Paul wrote the Book of Philippians and the verses about rejoicing from a prison cell. This was a time when he could have chosen to complain, but he chose to rejoice instead.

Joy can often seem elusive, but I have found one of the best ways to be rejoice and be glad is to count the blessings God has given me. To help me focus on them, I started a journal as suggested here in this article about the importance of thanksgiving. To date I have over 7,000 entries.

One reason that Christians can always rejoice and be glad is because of the Gospel. Even though Jesus was rejected when he came to earth and was crucified. It was part of God’s plan of redemption for us.

Psalm 118:22-23 says, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” (ESV)

Jesus referenced Psalm 118:22-23 to speak about Himself in Matthew 21:42 where it says, “Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the Scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone: this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes?”’” (ESV)

Jesus became the cornerstone because He is the foundation of our faith.

Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” (ESV)

We can always rejoice and be glad about the Gospel and the day of our salvation.

Maybe you have not yet received Christ yet and you may be thinking as I did prior to becoming a Christian, that God certainly wouldn’t want to hear from me. That I have sinned too much or gone too far and the truth is that we have sinned too much for Him. Everyone has sinned too much because even one sin is too many for a holy God.

But, we can rejoice and be glad because the Gospel or Good News is that Jesus Christ came to save sinners by grace through faith!

Jesus wants to hear from us. He came to die on the cross and take our punishment for us. He rose from the dead and He is alive. In Jesus, there is forgiveness and eternal life.

Jesus is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:11-12 NIV)

Have you believed and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Click here if you would like to now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

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“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 4 Ways to Find Contentment Now

• How to be Joyful When You Are Really Suffering

• How to Handle the Death of a Loved One

• The Best Quick Biblical Answer to Suffering

• Four Steps to Climb Out of a Pit of Depression

• How to Grow Through a Season of Loss 

• How to Overcome the Agony of Discouragement and Find Hope Again

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Whoever Believes In Me, As The Scripture Has Said,…

…rivers of living water will flow from within them. John 7:38

This Bible verse contains a wonderful promise from Jesus for whoever believes in Him to have rivers of living water flow from within them. But what does that mean?

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.

Before I became a Christian at age 27 I tried many things to fill the void in my life. I pursued peace and contentment in all the wrong ways. I always came away feeling dissatisfied. It was like I was drinking up everything the world had to offer but my thirst remained unquenched. I was parched and I didn’t know what to do.

But, as I look back I am thankful that the things I believed would help left me feeling empty. I am so glad that the Lord didn’t allow me to be satisfied with anything less than what He wanted to give me. I am so glad that He gave me living water.

Many people are discontent and thirsty for more in life, though they may not realize just what will satisfy them.

Some look for contentment in relationships, careers, money, prestige, fame, marriage or children. These are not wrong, but whoever believes that these will fully satisfy them will ultimately remain thirsty. This is evident because usually when one life goal is attained, the quest for something more continues.

But, Jesus offers something refreshingly different and unique because in these verses He is saying that whoever believes in Him will receive living water.

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:37-39 NIV)

Jesus is qualified to make this offer because He alone lived a sinless life. Therefore, His sacrificial death on the cross and His resurrection prove that God accepted His payment for our sins.

In fact, Jesus told His disciples, “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7 NASB)

Faith in Jesus quenches our thirst because whoever believes and receives Him as their personal Lord and Savior is given the Holy Spirit who indwells believers and seals them for the day of redemption.

John 4:10 says, Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” (NIV)John 4:13-14 says, “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” (NIV)Ephesians 1:13-14 says, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.” (NIV)

The Holy Spirit ministers to believers and is also known as the Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, and Intercessor.

Jesus promised to give Living Water which is the Holy Spirit to whoever believes and receives Him. Jesus is the source of life and every blessing for those who thirst; and are in need of peace and rest.

I am reminded of this quote by Augustine,

You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you. – Augustine of Hippo (354–430), in his book Confessions.

Augustine of Hippo penned this quote after he received Christ and His restless heart found rest in the Savior.

Are your thirsty for living water?

Have you believed and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Click here if you would like to now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:38 |

CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• 3 Steps to Get the Help You Need Today

• Quick Video – The Wilderness Gardens Mill, the Scriptures and the Spirit

• 4 Ways to Find Contentment Now

• Five Simple Steps to Conquer Complaining and Find Happiness

• How to be Joyful When You Are Really Suffering

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth

Through Him All Things Were Made;

…without Him nothing was made that has been made. -John 1:3

Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” (John 1:3) I remember almost 30 years ago, when God begin working in my life. It was the year before I received Christ as my Lord and Savior and as I was reading a Christian book, I remember pausing for a moment and saying “yes Jesus.”

This is a guest post by Beth Harris. She is a wife, mother, Bible study leader and volunteer editor for markalanwilliams.net.  

Then I stepped outside and I saw the trees in a whole new way. I noticed the leaves gently blowing in the breeze and I had this strong realization for the first time that they were alive. I suppose I had always thought of trees as one dimensional and inanimate objects.

But that day and moment, I remember thinking God is real and I am surrounded by life.

Romans 1:19-20 says, “For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (ESV)

We see that through Him all things were made in the beauty of nature, the patterns and rhythms of the universe; and through the miracle of birth. Creation reveals the glory of God and everything points to the fact that all things were made by a Creator.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” (Psalm 19:1-2 NIV)

In addition to creation, God speaks to us in other ways as well.

Hebrews 1:1-2 says, In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. (NIV)

To understand how through Him all things were made, we need to know about Jesus’ divinity and role in creation. We do this by learning about the mystery of the Trinity.

In the Bible, we see that God is a Trinity consisting of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is one in 3 persons.

2 Corinthians 13:14 says, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (NIV)

The Trinity is evident from the beginning to the end of the Bible.

John 1:1-2 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. (NIV)

Most people know that Jesus was born in a manger, or about His ministry, death and resurrection.

But through Him all things were made because Jesus existed prior to His time on earth.

How this can be true? The answer is because Jesus is God and He was not created.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 NIV)

Jesus entered time and was born here on earth, but He came as God incarnate or God in the flesh.

We see the divinity of Jesus and His role in creation through the following verses:

• John 1:3 says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” (NIV)

• Colossians 1:16 says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (NKJV)

The Bible tells us that Jesus is God and that through Him all things were made; including everything visible, invisible and all powers.

Did you know that Jesus is God and that through Him all things were made?

Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Click here if you would like to receive Him now.

Your thoughts are welcome! You can leave a comment below.

Help Spread the Word! If you found this article helpful, we’d love for you to share it with others on social media or otherwise. This will help get the Word in front of more people who need biblical guidance. Thanks for your help!

“Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:3 | CLICK TO TWEET

Additional resources about related subjects on this site:

• Vlog: Creation demands a Creator

• Podcast: What do Christians believe about creation and evolution?

• 5 Fantastic Spiritual Senses that Lead to Faith

• 4 Reasons Why 90% Believe God Exists

• What is the Meaning of Life? What Does God Owe Me?

• Podcast: Where do dinosaurs fit in the Bible?

NOTE: Facebook is random. Email is reliable. Subscribe via email and you won’t miss any of my articles, podcasts or videos. You’ll also get my eBook: 10 Prayers to Unlock Heaven on Earth