Every morning, as I walk across the pasture to my chicken coop, I look around at the beauty of the sunrise and inhale deeply the freshness of the dew in the air. Then I say out loud, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!” (my version of Psalm 118:24) However, every morning I really don’t feel like walking across the pasture to the chicken coop—like when it’s freezing cold or when I’ve had a late night before. On those mornings I don’t say it once…….I say it three or four times! Usually louder and more aggressively!! Because, I need the added strength and focus that it gives to me.

Where did I hear someone say that this was a good way to start each day? Y’all, I really should take better notes. Maybe I read it in a book. At any rate, when I heard this, I decided to start doing it. I’ll admit at first it felt rote, and that’s pretty much it. Something to habitually do and, after a while, something to do without really even noticing that I was even doing it. But, I remained consistent because my conviction to do anything—ANYTHING!!—it takes to be a person of continual spiritual growth was/is very real even when I don’t “feel” like it or it may seem silly or even trite to someone else.

Then it happened, I was up one morning making the long walk out across the pasture to the chicken coop. The sun was warm against my skin in the cool morning air. The birds were singing and so was the rooster, I joined their song by opening my mouth and proclaiming, “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!” Connection!! It had taken, I’m not proud to say, a couple of years for it to happen but it did, a wave rolled over my body when I came to the word “rejoice.”

You know how you can have a thousand thoughts all at the same time? That’s what happened to me. As soon as I hit that word it seemed that every scripture I had ever read on the subject of joy flooded my whole being. I’m sure that I had focused on that word before since it is my practice to take a verse and break it down, focusing on one word at a time in an effort to fully understand (if that’s even possible) what He is saying to us. It was such a powerful moment.

REJOICE!…. It’s as if I knew in that fleeting moment the power of…joy. There are so many scriptures on the subject. And, to be honest, not all of them make you want to be joyful. I mean, I know “the joy of the Lord is my strength,” but seriously, isn’t that a proclamation you make when you’re actually feeling “weak.” Sometimes it just seems as if choosing joy is like taking an aspirin, you do it when you have a headache (or a long walk across the pasture in freezing weather) but have no need for it when you’re feeling well. However, on this morning, I was feeling well and happy, I was enjoying the walk to the chicken coop and the beauty of the spring morning. I still chose to take the time to rejoice and that’s when it hit me!

Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.” (NKJV) is a verse about decision. Yes, it’s a verse to encourage us when we are down, to focus us when we are distracted by the battle; but, it is also a life verse to remind us that there is always a reason to rejoice and there is always an opportunity. It’s as simple as getting up in the morning.

Make joy a part of your wardrobe. REJOICE, PEOPLE! With every breath, with every blink, we have a chance to choose joy and it is a powerful choice that changes us….EVERYTIME!

How about you, do you have any thoughts you’d like to share on this subject? If so, please leave a comment below and…

Let’s Grow Together!