This Day Was Made for You

Psalm 118:24

This is from Psalm 118, a song of thanksgiving for rescue that also celebrates the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22-24).

Lord, this is the day You made — on purpose, for me. I rejoice and am glad in it before I know how it goes. Walk these hours with me. I sign for it with thanks. Amen.

This is from Psalm 118, a song of thanksgiving for rescue that also celebrates the rejected stone becoming the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22-24).

The Scripture

“This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
— Psalm 118:24

Prayer points from Psalm 118:24

Thank God that He made this day, before you know what it will bring.
Choose to rejoice and be glad in it now, naming one gift from God you can already see this morning.
Name what you are dreading about today, and hand it to Him before it arrives.
Remember a time He turned something rejected or broken in your life into something good, and thank Him for it.
Ask Him to walk through these hours with you, and to help you notice Him in them.
Pray by name for someone who is struggling to face today, that God would give them a reason to give thanks.

About this verse

Psalm 118:24 sits in a psalm of thanksgiving traditionally sung at Israel's festival celebrations, recounting deliverance from distress and giving God credit for a rescue the psalmist could not have accomplished alone. The declaration 'This is the day that the LORD has made' comes right after verses celebrating a stone the builders rejected becoming the cornerstone, a reversal of what looked like failure into triumph. The verse doesn't wait to see how the day turns out before calling for rejoicing; the gladness is chosen in advance, as an act of trust rather than a reaction to good circumstances. It has become a common way to begin the day with gratitude regardless of what's ahead. This is a prayer for starting the morning with deliberate thankfulness before the day proves itself one way or another.

When to pray this prayer

First thing in the morning, before checking your phone or the day's demands
When you're dreading the day ahead and need to reset your outlook
As a daily gratitude practice to start each morning with intention
On an ordinary day that doesn't feel special but deserves thanks anyway
When you want to model gratitude for children at breakfast or morning routine
After a string of hard days, choosing to expect good again

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