Introduction

Good morning, dear family of God. It is a joy to be gathered together in His presence, to share in the fellowship of His Word. We are here by divine appointment this Lord’s Day. God has a message for us today, a message of hope, of joy, and of His enduring love.

I am reminded of the words of the great Charles Spurgeon who said, "To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust him in the dark—that is faith." Now, isn't that a profound truth? Life, dear friends, is filled with moments of light and darkness, of joy and sorrow, of certainty and doubt. But in every season, in every circumstance, we are called to trust God, to lean on His understanding, to find joy in His presence. That is faith. That is the heart of our message today.

Our scripture passage for today is from the book of Psalms, a book of songs and prayers that echo the human experience in all its diversity. It is from Psalms 118:24, which says, "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

What a powerful reminder that every day is a gift from God, every moment an opportunity to rejoice in His goodness, to recognize His hand in our lives. Whether we find ourselves in the light or in the dark, we can rest in the assurance that the Lord is with us, that He is for us, and that He is working all things together for our good.

Recognizing the Lord in Every Experience

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's easy to lose sight of God's presence. We get caught up in our routines, our worries, our ambitions, and we forget that God is right there with us, in every moment, in every experience. He's there when we wake up in the morning and when we lay down at night. He's there in our joys and in our sorrows, in our victories and in our defeats.

God is in the mundane and the extraordinary, in the ordinary and the exceptional. The psalmist reminds us of this truth in Psalms 118:24. "This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Every day, every moment, is a creation of God. It's not just the big, life-changing moments that are God-made. It's also the small, seemingly insignificant moments. The moments we often overlook or take for granted. The moments we think are just ordinary or mundane. But in reality, there's no such thing as an ordinary or mundane moment. Because every moment is a moment that God has made.

This recognition of God's presence in every experience can transform the way we live. It can bring a sense of purpose and meaning to even the most mundane tasks. It can fill us with joy and gratitude, even in the midst of trials and tribulations. It can give us a sense of peace and contentment, even when things don't go our way.

But how do we cultivate this recognition of God in every experience? How do we train our hearts and minds to see God's hand in everything?

Firstly, we need to slow down. Life can be so fast-paced, so busy, so full of distractions. We rush from one thing to the next, always looking ahead, always planning for the future. But in doing so, we miss the present. We miss the moment and God. So, we need to slow down. We need to take the time to be still, to be present, to be aware. We need to take the time to notice the beauty around us, the blessings in our lives, the presence of God in every moment.

Secondly, we need to cultivate a heart of gratitude. Gratitude is a powerful practice. It shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. It helps us to see the good in every situation, the blessing in every trial, the grace in every hardship. We need to make it a habit to thank God for every moment, every experience, every blessing.

Thirdly, we need to trust in God's sovereignty. God is in control. He is the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of all things, the Ruler of all things. Nothing happens without His knowledge, without His permission, without His purpose. So, we need to trust in His sovereignty. We need to believe that He is working all things together for our good, that He is using every experience, every moment, for His glory and our growth.

Lastly, we need to abide in God's love. God's love is constant, unchanging, unfailing. It's not dependent on our performance, our behavior, our circumstances. So, we need to abide in His love. We need to rest in His love, to draw strength from His love, to find joy in His love.

Reveling in the Gift of Today

As we continue to reflect on the words of Psalms 118:24, we find ourselves drawn to the beauty and simplicity of the phrase, "This is the day the Lord has made ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO