Oh Happy Day!

Oh happy day (Oh happy day)
Oh happy day (Oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed)
Oh when He washed (When Jesus washed)
Mmm, when He washed (Mmm, when He washed)
All my sins away (Oh happy day)

He taught me how to watch
Watch and pray
Watch and pray (Watch and pray)
And live rejoicing every day
Every day (Every day)

'Oh Happy Day' Lyrics by Edwin Hawkins

I happened to think about this song recently. It is one of those songs that causes one to smile. The lyrics, the tune, everything about it brings joy. It caused me to wonder why. As I thought about it, one phrase kept coming to my mind: "And live rejoicing every day." I realized that I don't really live this way. Perhaps that's why I thought of the song. Perhaps it was a challenge from the Holy Spirit for me to begin to change my attitude and outlook on my daily life.
    I don't know about you, but it certainly isn't every day that I get up and declare: "Oh happy day!" Many days, I wake up already thinking about the struggles that may await me at work or home. The troubles of life overtake me before I have even had a chance to move into the heart of the day. So the idea of declaring, "Oh happy day!" each morning seems to be a great one. Maybe it would change my outlook and the outcome of each day. When I think about the song, I realize that I do have a reason to believe that each day is a happy one; Jesus really has washed my sins away, and that one thing is worth declaring my joy in the Lord each day.
    All this reminds me that I do not "Live rejoicing every day." And that must change. To me, it is all about changing my attitudes. Instead of focusing on the negatives, the struggles, and potential pitfalls that each day may offer, I should be rejoicing in the truth that Jesus has cleansed me, given me right-standing with God, and has given me a destiny that he created for me before the world began. In this, there is great reason to rejoice. No matter what comes my way, that truth is always with me. I think this is why the apostle Paul wrote: "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice!" Philippians 4:4. So it is no longer just a catchy tune that asks me to live rejoicing each day, it is the Word of God that emphatically requires me to do so. I must always rejoice in the Lord.
    If any of this speaks to your own heart, make a decision with me, to live each day rejoicing in the Lord. If you must sing the song, sing it. If you must quote the verse, quote it. If you must tell yourself to rejoice, tell yourself. Whatever it takes, you and I must change the way we live each day. Instead of living in the oppressive negativity of the world, let's live in the overwhelming joy of the Lord. It seems to me that many people will notice our rejoicing. When they notice, they may even ask us about it. That will give us an opportunity to speak the words of Christ. So "Rejoice in the Lord, I will say it again: Rejoice!"