Are you sure "this is the day the Lord made?"

Aug 1, 2024

Hi All,

Welcome to The Smart Edit newsletter!

This week … are you sure this is the day the Lord has made?, beware of the power of ideas over your life, power to make wealth, and more.

We live in pivotal times. The Lord has significant plans for each of us. The Smart Edit is here to provide encouragement and resources to help you realize that potential.

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KINGDOM DYNAMIC
“This is the day the Lord has made!” Are you SURE?

You've probably heard the phrase, “This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!”

This powerful affirmation comes from Psalm 118:24. I’ve been reflecting on this for a while, and I mentioned in last week’s newsletter how this verse was daylighted for me during a time of prayer as I was driving to meet a friend for some Kingdom Konvo 😉.

Let's dive into the verses leading up to verse 24 and then I’ll share what I feel the Holy Spirit is wanting me to know.

"The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:22-24 NKJV).

Here's what I want to share with you …

⚡️ We can't just claim the promise of verse 24 in a trite, almost meaningless way. It requires a deeper understanding.

⚡️ The worldly reject the "stone" … Christ. They build their lives and “structures” without acknowledging Christ’s lordship. Yet, the Father has made Christ the “Chief Cornerstone.”

⚡️ This passage is about the Father’s work and what he’s building. Everything the Father does aligns with Christ, the Chief Cornerstone.

⚡️ NOW, we can truly say, “This is the day the Lord has made...” because it refers to the Father's activity in the world, aligned with the Son. Christ is the builder. We see it. And we engage it.

And so, we can pray something like this …

“Father God, help me to see Your activity in my life and through my life into the world around me. I embrace Your building work, in alignment with Your Son. I reject what the anti-God world system is building. I refuse the carnal. I love and accept Your Kingdom activity. Do it in me. Do it through me. Do it today. “Now, this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!)

STELLAR QUOTE
Live it forward

It’s important to balance reflection and leaning into tomorrow — the equilibrium is the key. And of course it takes faith.

Søren Kierkegaard (1813 -1855) was a Danish philosopher, theologian, and cultural critic.

Higher thoughts

Teach all you know. Do you love to talk in a way that always feels like teaching? It’s not surprising. Teach everything you know as much as you can to as many as you can. Jesus said, “Go … teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded” (Matthew 28.19-20 NKJV). There’s a teach in you.

Scary Jesus. Jesus is scarier than any boogey man or foe. That’s why you don’t have to fear anything. Have you seriously read what he’s like when he returns to the earth? A sword protrudes from his mouth (Revelation 1.16, Isaiah 49.2). Kings will fall prostrate before him (Isaiah 49.7). There’s more and it’s even scarier. The Scary One loves you and died for you.

Good things. Any time we step away from our own understanding, and lean into acknowledging (know by direct, intimate contact) the Lord, good things begin to happen (Proverbs 3.5-6).

WORLDVIEW
Beware of the power of ideas over your life

Of course I’m not an expert in economics or political philosophy. But I do know enough to say that I'm not particularly fond of economist and philosopher John Maynard Keynes.

However, I must admit, I do appreciate his ideas about ideas!

"Practical men, who believe themselves to be quite exempt from any intellectual influences, are usually the slaves of some defunct economist.

“Madmen in authority, who hear voices in the air, are distilling their frenzy from some academic scribbler of a few years back" (The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money).

“Madmen … academic scribblers from a few years back.” Could we be living under the influence of their thoughts and words and not even know it?

It’s likely. Many, many things are downrange from pens and keyboards.

Get ready for more on how ideas shape our worldview in the Smart Edit!

💻️ Go further with this article on JesusSmart.com

Trendlines

😲 Stunning change in 5 years. 22% of Gen Z identify as LGBTQ+ and, among Gen Z women, that percentage grows to 28.5%. See the Lifeway Research article. Around 1 in 13 U.S. adults overall (7.6%) identify as LGBTQ+. See Gallup article. See Sexual Discipleship with Dr. Juli Slattery. “We have been sexually discipled by the culture around us” (Dr. Juli Slattery).

📊 Male and female. 71% of American adults agree with the statement that “there are two genders, male and female” (Rasmussen).

📉 AI. Majority of Americans disapprove of AI-generated books, art, and music.

🌊 Jesus in Cali. 2,000 Baptized in New 'Jesus Revolution' Event at Pirates Cove: 'Lord, Do It Again.'

WORD WEALTH
Power to make wealth

“But you shall remember Yahweh your God, for it is He who is giving you POWER to make wealth” (Deuteronomy 8.18 LSB).

“Power” is koach in the Hebrew meaning vigor, strength, power, force, capacity, means or substance. It generally capacity or ability.

Don’t be deceived! It is not our ability (v 17). We are to remember the ability comes from God (v 18).

“Yahweh, Father God, I acknowledge that the ability to make wealth comes from you. Lead me. I thank you for courage and diligence. May it never be a selfish, carnal thing. It’s all for the establishment of your covenant, your glory, your story. Amen.”

On the pulse

📰 Backlash. Per a poll by the U.K.’s Daily Mail, a striking 73% of readers said the Olympics opening ceremony in Paris was "grossly offensive." Due to massive backlash, the International Olympic Committee and NBC took down the opening ceremony footage from their online platforms and YouTube. IOC issued a non-apology response.

📰 Paris worship breakout. A Christian worship gathering broke out in downtown Paris after the debauched Olympic opening ceremony.

📰 Top leader of Hamas hit. In a stunning development, the top leader of Hamas, and the man many consider to be the number two leader of Hezbollah were assassinated within hours of each other. Israel has not commented on the killing of the Hamas leader, Ismail Haniyeh.

👉️ oh boy