March 2, 2023 • Life for Leaders
Scripture — Psalm 118:24
This is the day that the Lord has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Focus
God has made this day and has given you life. No matter what you’re facing, receive the gift of this day with gratitude.
Prelude
I find it painfully easy to take for granted some of God’s simplest and most wonderful gifts. For example, I can go through a day without ever really being aware of the fact that the day and my being alive in it are gifts from God. Plus, if my day is particularly busy or frustrating, I can think of it more as a burden than as a gift.
This isn’t always the case, especially when I take time to reflect on the fact of my being alive. I used to sense the wonder of this fact more strongly and consistently. That was true back in 2016 after I almost died from Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. I remember how it felt when I first got home from the hospital, so exhausted I could do nothing but sit on the front porch and rock. Yet, in that stillness I felt utterly grateful for the gift of life, for the day the Lord had made and the blessing of being alive in it.
No matter what you might experience in your work today, whether you’re closing a deal, scrambling to please your boss, or taking care of your aging father, you will be well served if you pause for a moment to thank the Lord for the gift of this day and for the fact that you are able to do good work in it.
Pray
Gracious God, indeed, this is the day you have made. I pause right now to rejoice and be glad in the gift of this day.
Thank you for today.
Thank you for the fact that I am alive to experience this day.
Thank you for all the good things I will experience today, for food, beauty, friendship, good work, and rest.
Thank you for being with me in the things that are not so good, for knowing my struggles and sorrows, for understanding my losses and for hearing my laments.
As I go through this day, no matter what it brings, may my heart continually rejoice and be glad because you have given me life today. Thank you!
Amen.
Ponder Throughout the Day
This is the day the Lord has made.
For Further Reflection
Read all of Psalm 118.
You might also read Psalm 100.
Banner image by Mohamed Nohassi on Unsplash.
Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the High Calling archive, hosted by the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: The Lord Is for Me.
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Dr. Mark D. Roberts is a Senior Strategist for Fuller’s Max De Pree Center for Leadership, where he focuses on the spiritual development and thriving of leaders. He is the principal writer of the daily devotional, Life for Leaders, and the founder of the De Pree Center’s Flourishing in the Third Third of Life Initiative. Previously, Mark was the Executive Director of the De Pree Center, the lead pastor of a church in Southern California, and the Senior Director of Laity Lodge in Texas. He has written eight books, dozens of articles, and over 2,500 devotions that help people discover the difference God makes in their daily life and leadership. With a Ph.D. in New Testament from Harvard, Mark teaches at Fuller Seminary, most recently in his D.Min. cohort on “Faith, Work, Economics, and Vocation.” Mark is married to Linda, a marriage and family counselor, spiritual director, and executive coach. Their two grown children are educators on the high school and college level.
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Thanks so much for this timely devotional. I’m 63 and semi retired when recently, because of our son’s diagnosis of a lung tumor, was called to go back to work full time. It’s been very easy for me to engage in my own pity party because of increased stress, work load, etc. This has caused an increased strain on relationships and life in general. This devotional has helped me reframe my perspective so thank you for sharing your heart and the truths of God’s word.
Great Friday thot. Reminded me of a wonderful resource I was recently pointed to — everydayholy.com.
It calls our attention to the small and mundane moment in our lives where we can find God, if we pay attention and look for Him.