All Joy, No Stress: A 5-Day Devotional With Rhett WalkerSample

Celebrate This Day

“This is the day the Lord has made;

let’s rejoice and be glad in it.” – Psalm 118:24

We celebrate all kinds of things. In addition to birthdays, anniversaries, and major holidays, there are many other celebrations throughout the year. Did you know there is an annual Fruitcake Toss Day? It has occurred every January 3rd since 1996 when a group of people gathered in Manitou Springs, Colorado to see who could throw their fruitcakes the longest distance. There’s a National Corn on the Cob Day, a Ballpoint Pen Day, a Wear Brown Shoes Day, an International Chicken Wing Day, and an Ugly Truck Day. September 5 is Be Late for Something Day, and then the very next day, September 6, is Fight Procrastination Day. You can look up monthly celebration calendars online and find something to celebrate literally every single day of the year. We like to celebrate; we were made for it!

In the Old Testament, God instituted celebration as a spiritual practice. Long before there was ever a national US calendar, the Jewish calendar was full of festivals. God laid out instructions for festivals and celebrations that took place throughout the year. Some of them lasted one day, others a week or more.

In the New Testament, though, we find that Christians are no longer obligated to practice the Old Testament feasts (Colossians 2:16). Instead, we are to “continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name” (Hebrews 13:15). In other words, this is the day, this is the moment for you to rejoice. Every moment of every day and in every circumstance, Christ is in all who have turned to Him in faith. So rejoice always as you engage in the practice of celebrating your Savior (Philippians 4:4)!

Reflection

• ·How does knowing that the Lord made this day with purpose change your outlook about it?
• ·What are some ways you can engage in the daily practice of celebrating the Lord and rejoicing in Him?
• ·Thank God for making this day a day to celebrate and rejoice in Him. Invite Him to continue to show you what it means to celebrate Him well.