The Discipline of Celebration

When is your birthday?

Mine is the 1st November. I have always enjoyed being the 1st of the month because it means as soon as it turns November, it’s my birthday and I don’t have to wait until later in the month!

Another significant date for me to celebrate is 13th October, our wedding anniversary. This year we celebrated 6 years, and I felt really excited as I woke up on the day! We exchanged cards and chocolates and went away for a night.

Celebration is important. It is important to celebrate what God has done, how far we have come, and to acknowledge milestones in our lives.

Celebration is also significant after suffering.

Psalm 126 is a great celebration Psalm.

‘When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy.’

The people of God celebrated restoration, freedom and deliverance. It came after suffering and times of challenge. They acknowledged what God had done, and chose to sing and laugh and testify.

I believe it can be similar for us. We may experience a season of challenge and suffering, which is why celebrating the breakthrough is so important afterwards. After our son was born, I found the first few weeks and months extremely difficult. Gradually things improved and we chose to have a big party for his 1st birthday- to celebrate his 1st year but also to celebrate us as parents and how God had sustained us!

In his book, ‘The Celebration of Discipline,’ Richard Foster writes about celebration, ‘celebration is a grace because it comes unmerited from the hand of God. It is also a discipline because there is work to be done.’

I want to encourage you to see the significance of celebration, and to mark occasions in your life. Ask God to help you celebrate. You may choose to have a party, or it may be going out for a meal or receiving cards and chocolate.

It may be a daily celebration-thanking God for your day and choosing one thing to celebrate.

Perhaps it is choosing to celebrate somebody else- an engagement, a baby or a new job.

As we celebrate, let’s praise God for his faithfulness to us. If you are in a challenging season, I pray you would know God’s grace and strength, and that you would believe celebration can and will come.

- Susie Raybould