Today’s Scripture Passage:
Psalm 100
Key Verse:
Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:4-5 (NLT)
Last week I included a Joy Challenge at the end of the post.
While working on Step One of The Joy Challenge, I gained a deeper understanding of just how important it is to return to the foundation of my faith on a continuous loop.
Continuously returning to a place of being filled up with the joy that comes from pausing to delight in who God is. Purposely remembering all He has already done for me. Looking for evidence of the good things He is currently doing in my life. An intentional refocusing of my attention from all other relationships and every circumstance. Stilling in His presence and letting go of everything swirling through my mind and smothering my soul. Returning to a place of wonder and delight in the One who has saved me. Remembering the attributes and benefits which first caught my attention.
I get it! This is not new information. But somewhere along the way, I’ve unintentionally allowed myself to skim through the thanksgiving and praise portion of my time with the LORD. Yes, I was reading my Bible. Yes, I was seeking a word of direction from Him. But, if I’m honest, both of those are more about me. I was there to receive. Neither was about being there just to enjoy the together time. I was slowly allowing the cares of this world to dim my delight in HIM and just being in His presence.
Today’s verses are great reminders of how we’re to ENTER into His presence. ENTER is an action word. It requires intention.
Today’s verses also remind us we’re not to go into His presence empty handed. We’re to enter with THANKSGIVING and PRAISE. How appropriate it is the LORD has brought us to this place of remembering these truths today – Thanksgiving Day 2020!
It’s important for us to remember those things He has done for us, to call them by name, and carry our thanks with us when we ENTER His presence. There are so many things to be thankful for, if we’ll just turn our eyes from the cares of this world to see them.
Genuine thanksgiving leads to praise. Everything the LORD does for us and everything He gives to us reveals more of who He is. His gifts reveal His attributes. And the more we see of Him, the easier it is to recognize His gifts. His presence becomes tangible and His love evident. We can then ENTER His presence with praises for who He is. Igniting our love for Him and finding our joy restored as we ENTER His presence with THANKSGIVING and PRAISE.
LORD, we’re so thankful to be citizens of Your Kingdom. We’re thank You for the privilege of being your representative in the foreign land we live in now. Help us to grow in our relationship with You, so we will represent You well. Give us compassion and courage and teach us to love those around us as You love them. We want to love as citizens of Heavens and not citizens of this world!
Here’s a piano and lyric link to an old hymn with wonderful lyrics appropriate for Step One in The Joy Challenge. Hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus (hymnal.net)
Here’s a YouTube video to the same hymn . Hillsong – Turn your eyes upon Jesus (HD with lyrics) (Best Worship Song to Jesus) – YouTube
Digging Deeper:
Psalm 37: 1-7 & Psalm 46:1-11,
If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
One of your daddy’s favorites. As I sat at the computer and listened I could just feel and see him beside me playing our piano. Of course I cried but I know he is absent from the body but present with the with the Lord,