Daily devotional, 07 June 2024 The festival
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's." Psalm 103:2-5
Festivals are always a much awaited event, especially when I was growing up as a child. It is marked with house parties, carnivals, fun times with neighborhood kids, church activities, and school holidays.
Many many years ago, God designated festivals and days of commemoration too. These days were meant to celebrate times when God delivered His people from troubles like slavery. The Passover is one such celebration, and to this day, Jews around the world still celebrate this occasion:
"This is a day you are to commemorate; for the generations to come you shall celebrate it as a festival to the Lord—a lasting ordinance." Exodus 12:14
As present-day followers of Jesus, we are also given time and opportunity to celebrate God’s goodness in our lives. Christmas and Easter remain to be the most important holidays throughout the world, and we also personally celebrate milestones in our families like our birthdays and anniversaries. It is important that we take time to thank the Lord more profoundly during these days because each year we celebrate these days, show His faithfulness in our lives.
"You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
Psalm 16:11
Apart from enjoying God’s presence and happily remembering His protection and providence, God wants us to celebrate so that we could know that our happiness and enjoyment are important to the Lord.
"Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God. For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart." Ecclesiastes 5:19-20
When we live busy lives, we tend to forget the deeper meaning of getting to celebrate yet another holiday or milestone in our life. We allow the busyness of that particular season or celebration to get the better of us. Sometimes in our effort to portray happiness and enjoyment, we even forget to thank God for yet another chance to celebrate. But when we stop to reflect and thank the God that allows us to be joyful, then we can experience His peace and joy all the more.
"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:9-11
We have to keep in mind that our God is a God that wants us to be happy. He is not like an ultra-strict parent who is waiting to call us out for the next mistake that we will make. He is not a killjoy. He in fact wants us to be joyful always, regardless of our circumstances. He wants us to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man."
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
Once we take into heart that our God is a good God, we can trust more in His love. We do not need to hold back our happiness because He is not planning to surprise us with a tragedy when we become too happy. He in fact wants us to hold on to our reason for joyfulness because that will fuel our hope as we face daily challenges in our lives. He wants us to know that His past deliverance is an assurance that He will always be there to help us in our future woes.
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11
And as we continue to celebrate and enjoy the milestones in our lives, let us not forget to share a testimony of God’s faithfulness in our lives. Like the memorial stones that God asked Joshua to erect in the Jordan River as he finally led the once enslaved Israelites to the Promised land, we are meant to tell and retell everyone we know, what God has done for us and what He can do for them.
"Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
Joshua 4:7
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Psalm 118:5-17 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Do you think of God and thank Him when you celebrate feasts and milestones in your life?
Conversation with the Lord: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us reasons to and for taking pleasure in our happiness and enjoyment. Help me to rejoice always in your love regardless of my circumstances. Amen.
