This is the day the Lord has made

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

I remember as a child learning the song that comes from this verse in the Psalms. It was probably in Sunday School or Vacation Bible School and I would sing it out loud with all the other children! It was one of those repetitive songs, sort of "marching along", that you can sing over and over and never tire of it because it just goes along with whatever you are doing at the time. Very few things inspire the human spirit quite like a song. Many of the Psalms are songs that could be set to music, and many of them have been made into current worship songs. David loved to sit in the fields and tend his sheep and sing songs to God while he played his harp. God refers to him as "a man after my own heart." (Acts 13:22) Yet David was far from the perfect little boy who slayed the great Goliath early on in his days after being anointed by Samuel. He spent years running from Saul, he wasn't the best father a child could ask for, he committed adultery, and he had a man murdered to cover his sin. Yet he cried out to the Lord in all his indiscretions and maintained his love and praises to Him begging for forgiveness. We can learn much today from David. First, you don't have to be perfect to be a man (or woman) after God's own heart. You simply have to want a deep and committed relationship with Him. Even though we slide on the slippery slopes of humanity and sometimes fall into a pit (Psalm 103:4), God is always there at the edge to lend us a mighty hand and pull us to safety. We are His children and he wants the best for us and that includes loving us when we are miserable failures or at the pinnacle of success. So remember this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! Sing a song to the Lord today and thank Him for all his glorious gifts in your life. He will love hearing your beautiful voice and you will love the warm feeling of joy and peace that comes from praising Him! "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 118:29)