Some days things don’t go well. Your alarm doesn’t go off and you are late for work. Your car won’t start even though you just got it back from the mechanic yesterday. The repairman said he would be at your house last week to fix your air conditioner and still hasn’t showed up. It rains on the day you were planning to go to the lake. The aches and pains in your joints as you grow older make it hard for you to do the simplest of tasks. Your adult children and grandchildren make decisions that are contrary to what you would have them do.

We all have those days. Just recently I ordered some parts for my tractor. I waited five days for them to arrive, and when they did, I realized that I ordered the wrong parts. I was upset with myself.

When these things happen, it is very easy to take the attitude, “This is the day where nothing is going right. I will complain and be mad in it.” You can get surly and grumpy and make it so that people will keep their distance if they know what is good for them. You may not realize it, but you are letting Satan be in charge of you actions when you behave that way.

Or you can remember who you are. You are a redeemed child of God. You are someone for whom Jesus came down to this earth, lived a life of perfection and offered that life to pay for your sin. He was the only one who could accomplish your forgiveness, and He did that out of His love for you. But wait, there’s more. He also conquered death for you by rising on the third day, ensuring that everyone who trusts in Him will live forever in His presence. Then He ascended to the right hand of the Father where He is reigning and still watching over you. It is from there that He will return on the Last Day to gather His faithful children together for eternity.

When I react badly to the circumstances of the day or feel my anger starting to ge the best of me, I try to stop it immediately. I apologize to God for letting it happen. I ask Him to forgive me for Jesus’ sake and help me remember who I am.

You get to choose how you will react to things. I try to remember who I am so that I make the right choice.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.