Signposts: Daily Devotions

Tuesday, July 8

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
—Psalm 118:24

Each new day unfolds with gracefulness. There is no hurry, no staccato beats, no harsh edges—only the gentle laying aside of the night so the day can slowly be born. As technologically and scientifically savvy as we have become, we are not able to create that new day ourselves. It is only and always a pure gift from the hand and heart of the Holy One.

Yet in the midst of this wondrous gift, we can find ourselves easily inattentive, unaware, or just plain cranky about the day before us. It might be that we are dreading a meeting, or we face another day of loneliness and boredom, or we feel "down on our luck." We can get so caught up in our own circumstances that we miss the wondrous new day of our life.

We may not have any way to bring a new day into being, but we do have the capacity to find joy in the miracle of the day that has been given to us. Each moment, each instant of that day is a sure sign that the Holy One has not forgotten us or ceased to love us.

And every moment, every instant can be an opportunity to touch the fabric of heaven's cloak. We just need eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is full of gratitude.

O God, when I get in a "snit" with life and the people in my life, remind me that the day you have given is meant for my joy.

The Signposts for July are written by Renée Miller and originally appeared on explorefaith.org in 2004.