Goodbye Anxiety—Hello Joy

My list of I-have-to-do-this-TODAY brought anxiety that left me feeling overwhelmed. And on top of my list, I had to walk Elle, our second and feistiest dog. So, as we headed to my prayer road, I told God that I needed—desperately—to change my attitude. I mean, it was still morning and I didn’t want to go through the whole day being grouchy.

After a few seconds, a gentle breeze found me. And before I knew it, some words from a

song I knew, came to me: “. . . I will rejoice and be glad…” It just repeated itself over and over. Then I remembered the tune. And then a few more words. Wow! This was the most

appropriate and meaningful song that I needed. I’m sharing it because we all need this song.

This is the day the Lord has made.

[I] will rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24, NLT).

A friend of mine once said I should try emphasizing each word. That meant I had to say

the song 16 times. But it was worth the time. I not only repeated the words 16 time, I found myself making each word

mean something to me. Below is how I interpreted each word:

This—Today, not yesterday or tomorrow.

This is—It lives.

This is the—It's specific.

This is the day—Newly birthed.

This is the day the—Important.

This is the day the Lord—Holy.

This is the day the Lord has—In the present.

This is the day the Lord has made—Handmade for me.

I—This day is mine.

I will—I’ve chosen.

I will rejoice—Giddy with joy.

I will rejoice and—Something more.

I will rejoice and be—All in.

I will rejoice and be glad—Celebrate thankfully.

I will rejoice and be glad in—Surrounded with love.

I will rejoice and be glad in it—Focus on this day.

God’s Word speaks to each person in many ways. By emphasizing the words to the psalm, and making them personal, my anxiety melted, and love took its place. Try it and let me know how it impacted you!