October 4, 2021
“This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”—Psalm 118:24
This day is My love for you, so keep your eyes open at every turn so that you don’t miss any of My small tokens of endearment. Look out your window and see the beautiful creation—that’s My love for you. Look at your loved ones and friends—they’re My love for you. Look at the nice clothes I’ve given you, the wonderful supply of your needs—that’s My love for you. Look at everything that is good, beautiful, and lovely that you see today and remember that it is all a manifestation of My love for you.
In all that you do for Me today‚ remember that I appreciate every act of kindness, every iota of work done for Me. I know many times you may not think of it as part of your service for Me if you’re taking care of your children, preparing food, working, studying, or doing mechanical tasks. But I look at each task as a song of praise to Me, because you’ve offered it to Me and sought to please Me in all that you do.1
This is a wonderful day—24 hours to rejoice and be glad in My presence and love for you. I love you and I think you’re beautiful—My good creation!2 I see your love for Me and your desire to please Me, and in return, I will give you everything you need, because I know you will be faithful to use it well and to give it right back to Me.
Remember to “seize the moment” throughout the day. Don’t get so caught up in your work and service for Me that you neglect to notice and appreciate the little things—nature‚ a compliment, a meal lovingly prepared, a comfortable bed, the starry night. Take time to stop and enjoy and even revel in these little things I bring your way each and every day.
If today is looking like a stormy day, remember that even when the day ahead appears cloudy and gray, you have My sunshine in your heart every day, all 24 hours, day and night. No matter how dark and cloudy it looks on the outside, remember that My sunshine can bring light in your heart.
I know you have a lot to do today, but remember, it’s not by your might or power, but by My Spirit and strength that things will be accomplished according to My plan.3 Commit your day and everything in it to Me‚ and you’ll be amazed at all we will be able to do today.
You are called to be a vessel of My love to others. Find someone today who needs encouragement and share My love and truth with them. I want to use you today to encourage someone who desperately needs to know that they’re loved and appreciated. Keep in tune with Me and I will show you who that is.
Love is never wasted. Keep on loving others whether or not you see results, because I have called you to the kingdom for such a time as this,4 to help mend and heal the hurts of those around you. You are called to be an encourager, a lifter up, a binder of wounds, a bringer of joy.
You can have a ministry of sharing My love and shining My light on others no matter what else you are doing. When you witness to people about Me, you always win. Whenever you feel weary or discouraged, there’s nothing like sharing a salvation message with someone searching for truth and filling their need, which in turn will give you the boost you need. Thank you for being a vessel of My love and truth and for letting your light shine so that others will be drawn to Me.5
I know the times you feel overwhelmed, and I see when you feel insecure and discouraged. But I also see that at these times you are desperate to commune with Me and receive My direction and instruction. As you commit your life to Me, you can trust that I will guide you in the ways I know are best, and in the end when you look back, you will see My plan and timing in all things, even if from your present vantage point it might look like confusion. I always have My hand on your life.
Don’t allow yourself to become convinced that you can’t do what I’m calling you to do. Rather, rejoice in your human limitations, knowing that they make more room for Me to work. When you are weak, I am strong.6 You’ll have your ups and downs as long as you’re alive on earth; that’s just part of human life. But when you get down‚ you don’t have to stay there. Reach out to Me and let Me lift your spirit above your burdens so that you can dwell in My presence.
The touch of My love re-creates and gives new strength. It breathes fresh vigor into those who are tired and weary. You pour out to others every day and you give much for Me, but you never need fear running on empty, for as you pour out, I will pour back in. All it takes to remain full is faithfulness to your times alone with Me, when you retreat from all your burdens and concerns and dwell in My presence and My love in all its fullness. Its abundance will never diminish, and it will always be there for you.
When there’s so much to do and so little time to do it, give all of your burdens to Me. Take each one and give it specifically to Me. I may not help you to accomplish everything in one day, for there is only so much that is humanly possible. But I will give you My perfect peace in knowing that you’ve done your very best and have accomplished the things which were most important.
Remember to cast all your cares and burdens on Me. You can even make it a mental picture—every time you feel the cares and burdens of this life‚ picture yourself taking that backpack of burdens and giving it to Me. Don’t look back, wondering if I’m going to take care of your burdens. I will. I promise to take all your burdens upon Myself‚ as My Word says.7 Will you do that for Me today?
There is a limit to what you can physically do each day, so just trust that I will take care of the rest. At the end of the day, commit everything undone to Me; don’t hold on to it and let it burden or discourage you. I will take care of what you are not able to do each day as you commit it into My hands.
In tales of old‚ men set out on innumerable endless quests to find the “holy grail.” Such is the intense desire within man’s heart for a connection with Me and for the ability to live eternally. Yet I have freely given such knowledge and power through My Word recorded in the Bible and My death on the cross. You need not roam to the ends of the earth in its pursuit. You need only accept it.
Without My Word you will not be able to do the job I have called you to do. It’s vitally important that you have time in My presence every day. Take time with Me and together we’ll get a lot done to further My message to this lost and lonely world.
There are few nobler aspirations than being a scholar of My Word and wanting to be totally immersed in it until it becomes one with you and in you. The words I have spoken to you are full of the Spirit and life.8
Do you need a boost? My Word is always there for you, always full of power, always ready to lift you up, give you answers‚ encourage your heart, and give you strength and guidance. Never underestimate the power of My Word! Let Me renew your convictions each day through My Word and through My voice speaking directly to your heart. My Word gives you faith through you hearing it and determining to live by it.9
The most important thing—today and always—is your relationship with Me. If there’s anything standing in the way of our communication, today is the day to sort it out and make it right. If there’s anything hindering your receptivity to My Word‚ today is the day to resolve it. If there’s anything keeping you from having the time with Me that you need, today is the day to find a solution.
Today is the day to spend time with Me and receive the power, instruction‚ blessings, spiritual progress and anointing that come with it.
Originally published June 2005. Adapted and republished October 2021.
Read by Simon Peterson. Music by John Listen.
1 1 Corinthians 10:31.
2 Genesis 1:31.
3 Zechariah 4:6.
4 Esther 4:14.
5 Matthew 5:16.
6 2 Corinthians 12:10.
7 1 Peter 5:7.
8 John 6:63.
9 Romans 10:17.
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