Read aloud Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Question: Have you ever heard this verse before? What do you think about, or usually think about when you hear this verse?
Read: Some days, saying and meaning the words in Psalm 118:24 is easy! Other times, those words might say the opposite of what you’re feeling. On hard days, choosing to rejoice—to celebrate and be glad—can seem impossible.
Life has ups and downs for everyone. But no matter what’s going on each day, we can choose to have joy because of God!
Think About: Complete one of these sentences, picking the one that’s closest to how you feel about today.
• This is a hard day, but I can choose joy because God’s given me…
• Today’s just OK, but I can still have big joy because God is…
• This day has been amazing, and my joy is overflowing because God…
Read: With practice and being patient with yourself, you can find joy in each day. You can always ask God for his help, too! And for the days it’s just too hard, our loving God is ready to help you try again with a fresh, new day.
Question: How have you seen God’s love and goodness today?
Did You Know: Joy can lower stress, help you fight illness, and give your mood a big boost. Choosing joy is kind of like taking vitamins each day—helping our bodies, minds, and souls rejoice and be glad!
Read & Do: Reread Psalm 118:1. Then go through the alphabet naming something to thank God for that starts with each letter in order. (For example, A – always loving me, B – best friends, etc.) Family members can take turns naming things and can help each other as needed.
Question: What can you do right now to help yourself remember to have joy when things get hard?
Think and Pray: Pray together and give each person a chance to personally say “thank you” to God. Saying those two simple words can turn hearts toward gratitude for God—melting away stress, hurt feelings, worries, and more.