I have found that the most grateful people know how to live in the present day instead of focusing on the future. Grateful people are so focused on their present circumstances and the gifts God is giving them that they cannot worry about the future. You have probably seen this to be true for people in your own life, too. When we focus on today, we can focus solely on the things and the gifts God has given in the moment instead of worrying about what will happen later. This way of living brings peace, gratitude, and hope.
The author of Psalm 118 reminds us to focus on the present day to find gratitude. He begins this chapter by saying, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever” (verse 1). Next, he calls everyone else to repeatedly proclaim that “His faithful love endures forever” (verses 2-4). God’s never-ending love was the basis. After writing about God’s unending love, he takes time to remember God’s faithful love specifically to him. He remembers God’s protection and care for him in extremely difficult situations. As the Psalm comes to an end, He writes, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it” (verse 24). Whatever we are facing, whatever trials we are going through, on our best days and our worst days, we can pause, acknowledge that God has given us this day, and rejoice.
This practice, “to rejoice and be glad” in the day we are living through, is a conscious effort. When bad news comes, when worries overtake us, when we are overwhelmed by all of the unknowns, our natural tendency is to focus on our fears, worries, and disappointments. We have to make a conscious decision to find a reason to be grateful. This means intentionally seeking out reasons to be grateful. We may not instantly see things to be grateful for, especially when we are going through difficult times, but we can always find something if we choose to look. We can choose to focus on the hardships we’re facing, or we can choose to focus on the day we are given and the faithfulness God has shown us. One way of focusing leads to fear and frustration. One way leads to peace and life. May we always be people who look for opportunities for gratitude. After all, “This is the day the Lord has made.” What can you thank God for today?
Make a commitment today to focus on today without complaining or worrying about what the future might look like. Instead of worrying and complaining, marvel in God’s goodness and the gifts He has given you this day. Pray and thank Him for His care and provision in your life, specifically for you today. And tell Him that you trust Him for your future. Repeat the words of Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.
2 Let all Israel repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."
3 Let Aaron's descendants, the priests, repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."
4 Let all who fear the Lord repeat:
"His faithful love endures forever."
5 In my distress I prayed to the Lord,
and the Lord answered me and set me free.
6 The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear.
What can mere people do to me?
7 Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me.
I will look in triumph at those who hate me.
8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in people.
9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.
10 Though hostile nations surrounded me,
I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
11 Yes, they surrounded and attacked me,
but I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
12 They swarmed around me like bees;
they blazed against me like a crackling fire.
But I destroyed them all with the authority of the Lord.
13 My enemies did their best to kill me,
but the Lord rescued me.
14 The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has given me victory.
15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
16 The strong right arm of the Lord is raised in triumph.
The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!
17 I will not die; instead, I will live
to tell what the Lord has done.
18 The Lord has punished me severely,
but he did not let me die.
19 Open for me the gates where the righteous enter,
and I will go in and thank the Lord.
20 These gates lead to the presence of the Lord,
and the godly enter there.
21 I thank you for answering my prayer
and giving me victory!
22 The stone that the builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.
23 This is the Lord's doing,
and it is wonderful to see.
24 This is the day the Lord has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
25 Please, Lord, please save us.
Please, Lord, please give us success.
26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord.
27 The Lord is God, shining upon us.
Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will praise you!
You are my God, and I will exalt you!
29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever."
