The Call to Follow! September 21, 2026

“As Jesus was walking on from there he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office, and he said to him, 'Follow me.' And he rose and followed him.”

Matthew 9:9

Today’s Word

We often spend our lives waiting for the perfect conditions to be happy. We tell ourselves that we will rejoice once the weekend arrives, when the stressful project is finally finished, or after a difficult season of life completely passes. By focusing so heavily on tomorrow, we treat today like a blank space to rush through rather than a unique masterpiece created intentionally by God.

This psalm reminds us that every single day is an original, unrepeatable gift from the Creator. The morning you woke up to today was hand-fashioned by God with a specific purpose in mind. It contains a unique blend of mercies, opportunities, and grace that belongs entirely to this twenty-four-hour window. Joy is not a passive emotion that happens to us when everything goes perfectly; it is an active decision to acknowledge God's presence in the immediate present.

When we choose to rejoice today, we declare our trust in God's current goodness, regardless of what our circumstances look like. We stop letting our worries about the future rob us of the peace available right now. Your life is happening today, and God is waiting to meet you in this very moment.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the beautiful gift of this brand-new day. Forgive me for the times I get so caught up in my future plans or past regrets that I completely miss the blessings right in front of me. I want to live fully in the present today. Help me to see Your hand in the ordinary moments, to welcome Your peace, and to choose joy in every circumstance. In Jesus' name, Amen.