The LORD has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad. — Psalm 118:24

In honour of my father, FellowshipFounder Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, of blessed memory, and his lifework helping Christians understand the Jewish roots of their faith, I offer you one of his devotional teachings from the beloved Psalms.

There is a story shared about a 92-year-old woman as she entered the nursing home where she would spend the rest of her life. After waiting patiently in the lobby, she was told that her room was ready. An attendant escorted the lady to her room, and as she slowly edged her walker toward the elevator, he described the room to her.

“I love it!” she exclaimed with the enthusiasm of a child who had just received the most wonderful birthday gift. “But Mrs. Jones, you haven’t even seen it yet!” the man replied. “That has nothing to do with it,” she said.

The elderly woman continued: “Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged… it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day.”

Every Day Is the Day

For some people, this kind of attitude may take a lifetime to master. Others will pass through this world without ever knowing the kind of joy that this perspective can bring. But we can choose to move into this frame of mind today — no matter how old or young we may be, no matter how rich or poor, no matter what our circumstances.

In Psalm 118, the psalmist provides us with one of the most powerful verses that we can incorporate into our lives: “The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” Translated literally from the original Hebrew, the verse reads: “This is the day the LORD has made, let us rejoice and be glad on it.”

While this psalm is part of a group of psalms traditionally recited on holidays, the Jewish sages teach that this verse applies to every single day of our lives. Every day when we wake up, we have to look at “this very day” as The Day. We need to live as if every day is The Day. He has created everything in this day exactly as it should be. We must “rejoice and be glad on it” because it is created by and lovingly given to us by the Master of the Universe. Today is His gift to us — that’s why we call it the present!

Every day of our lives can be filled with joy. Remember — it’s not about how the things in our lives are arranged; it’s about how we arrange our lives in our minds. Let’s decide to live every day as if it is the very best day of our lives!Your turn: Don’t forget to tune into my podcast, Nourish Your Biblical Roots, which airs today with a new episode!