The Way In

Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations.

Psalm 100 NKJV

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to slip into discontent? It takes little to no effort to be grumpy. Sometimes, all it takes is the alarm going off in the morning...  even though it's set because we are gainfully employed and not unemployed, existing from hand to mouth. It's a ploy of the enemy of our souls to get our focus on what we don't have rather than to give thanks for all that we do have. 

So, how do we combat that? 1st Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. I've made the distinction before (I may be splitting hairs), I'm not thankful FOR all things, but I can be thankful IN them, knowing that God has a purpose and a plan for everything that touches my life. Often, it is in the worst of times that we come to know God more intimately.     

In Psalm 16:11b, David tells us [speaking to the Lord], In Your presence is fullness of joy... We must come into His presence. The instruction in Psalm 100 is very clear. 

     Come before His presence with singing... 

     Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. 

     Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.    

A grateful heart is the way in to His presence. Choose to be thankful. Make the effort. It is worth it.

Prayer:

Father,

          In this sometimes dark and weary world, You light shines even brighter. Thank You because it helps us to keep our eyes on You. Help us to stay focused on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, that's what we want to dwell on so we can enter into Your presence where there is Your promised fullness of joy. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen