My morning did not start out as planned: I lost $40. I was doing too many things at once, and lost focus on what I should have been doing — getting money from the automatic teller machine. Since I recently started my own business, I cannot afford to lose $1, much less $40. Yet, throughout the morning, today's Scripture kept running through my mind. Despite my loss, God made this day, and I am supposed to rejoice in it. God's Word calls for me to rejoice — independent of my circumstances.

Rejoicing means to feel joy and gladness, to exult. When I rejoice, I am acknowledging God's majesty and magnificence. Those things exist whether I had a bad day or not. Yes, I wish I had my money back. The money, however, is not the foundation for my relationship with God. My relationship is based on the blood that Jesus shed when He died on the cross for my sins, and on His having risen again.

Because Jesus died for us — and through His death we have everlasting life — every day is a good day. Because every day is a good day, we will rejoice and be glad in it.

Prayer: Precious heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for making each and every day one for us to rejoice and be glad. Thank You that our joy does not depend on our circumstances, but on our ability to trust and depend on You. In the precious name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.