This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24 (KJV)
We as Christians often assume that God’s presence is something that comes and goes—that it can suddenly fill the room and can leave the room just as quickly. The trouble with this belief is it causes us to think that God’s presence is fleeting, that it’s unpredictable, and that we don’t have any control over whether or not his presence is with us.
The truth is that God’s presence is always with us. His spirit lives within us after all; he doesn’t come and go. What comes and goes is our awareness of him.
Becoming aware of the presence of God takes a conscious effort. And praise isn’t something you do just when you feel like it. Praise is a function of the will, and it’s often most powerful during those times when you don’t feel like praising God at all.
As believers, we don’t live by our feelings. Our feelings don’t dictate our behaviour or our attitudes. Today’s verse doesn’t say, “This is the day the Lord has made; I feel like rejoicing.” It says, “I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
When you choose to rejoice, even when you don’t feel like it, you become aware of God’s presence. You begin to sense his power in you, and then the good feelings come and you start to feel glad about your day. It’s not the other way around.
The next time you’re feeling down, put on some life-giving praise and worship music and start giving thanks to God. Decide that you’re going to live every day of your life praised up, because praise helps to create an atmosphere where the miraculous can happen.